He Couldn't Stop Himself

Jasper hadn't realized that April wasn't nearly as carefree as she had appeared before she came here. Today had been a major wakeup call.

Finding her under her heap of stuffed animals wasn't a good sign. The last time she had done this, she had cried because she was afraid of him after Michael burst into her room and refused to leave.

He knew something was up even before she said she wasn't hungry and that he didn't have to stay. That gave him all the more reason to. He was worried about her.

He hadn't really expected to get an answer when he asked if she could tell him what was wrong. She managed to surprise him by saying her life had no meaning. She certainly didn't give off that impression with how enthusiastic she could be about things.

April felt like she wasted her photography degree, that her parents didn't care, and that nobody even noticed her absence. He didn't know how to refute any of those things. He didn't have the right words.