Silent Theo
That evening, Viktor pulls Theo aside in the living room. “Theo, your teachers are worried about you. What’s going on?”
Theo fidgets but says nothing. Viktor gently prods him, “You can tell me, buddy.” Silence. Viktor feels the frustration build but pushes it down.
“We’ll figure it out,” he repeats, more for himself than Theo. He wishes he could break through the wall Theo has built around himself, but nothing works.