Hearing Zeke's voice asking if he was okay - not shouting, not accusing - caused the tears to stream again. Not wanting to cry on the sofa again, Zephyr managed to make his way upstairs, aiming for his bedroom. "I'm fine..." He could barely say the words, not only because they weren't true. But he tried, as you usually did.
"I'm sorry..." he sobbed, pressing the phone against his ear as he fell into his bed and crumbled up, reaching for the one plush toy he kept on display up the headrest of his bed: A worn kitten, with one eye missing and a nose made of yarn.