Henry froze as soon as she sat down. Technically he’d started doing so when he noticed someone approaching him. He hadn’t been frightened as he’d peered up over his book at the first sound of someone nearby and seen that it was his mom. He could tell she was worried and that made his stomach flop. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but he was so angry, so sad, that he’d needed to distance himself from everyone for a little while and the park had seemed like a good idea.
So maybe he should’ve called first...
He let the silence stretch between them for a bit, not sure what to say or really how to say it. He was such a bundle of emotions that he didn’t know which one to bring forth first. Holding all of it inside wasn’t good for him though. Just look at what all that pent up emotion was doing to everyone he loved.
“Why do you all even talk to her?” he finally said, not looking away from his book. “Why do you fight people who want to give her a chance of their own? Why does everyone hold onto all the hate? It’s not good for you.”