Gaggles

Ash

Keeping a critical eye on Kai, Ash realized that there was something wrong. Kai was moving even slower than he had been on Friday. It was obvious that he was good at hiding his discomfort and his pain from others, but Ash wasn’t just any “other”. He was too good at reading people and knew the signs and symptoms too well. The only way he could miss the signs was if he suddenly went blind.

Kai was in some serious pain. Ash was pretty sure it was the result of someone abusive. Why else would it be such a constant? The real question, though, was who? Who was hurting him so much? A family member? A neighbor? A . . . boyfriend?

“Mind if I sit with you?” Ash practically whispered as they entered the empty lecture hall. “Maybe Clyde will leave you alone if someone is with you. Plus, maybe some of your easy smarts will rub off on me.”