Worried

Riley stretched. His cramped muscles embraced the freedom but also sent out waves of pins and needles. He looked up to see Sky still fast asleep and drooling. The drool was undignified but took nothing away from the taller boy's beauty.

Riley looked down to his arms to see the bandages covering the cuts in his flesh. In his half awake state he looked liked like a mummy. The thought was so child-like he almost laughed. His short lived happiness vanished when Will Solangelo walked through the open doorway.

Will gestured for Riley to join him outside. Riley went to shake Sky awake but he felt a hand on his shoulder. Will had silently moved behind up behind the injured man. Once again Will gestured for Riley to join him.

Once in the hallway, Will said, "I want to speak to you alone for a minute." Riley nodded, not quite sure what was going on. They both worked their way to the living room and sat down. Riley yawned, noting that the sun was barely peaking over the tops of the buildings outside the window. "What could be so important that we had to talk this early?" he thought.

Will sipped a cup of coffee and looked serious. Riley began to shake his knee out of anxiety. Finally, when Riley felt he couldn't take the silence any longer, Will pipped up. Choosing to go straight to the problem, Will asked, "What happened to your arm Riley?"

Riley, caught off guard, studded. "W-well I, um, kinda, um... I hurt my arm!" He said. "Yeah, uh, yeah, I got attacked by a cat!" He added as if that made the lie any more believable.

Will gave him a look saying he was having none of it. Riley suddenly became very interested in a thread on his t-shirt. "Can I see?" Will asked. Riley carefully held his bandaged wrists out to the doctor. With unexpected gentleness, Will unwrapped his arms.

Will's suspicion was confirmed by the thin lines running down Riley's skin. Will was now in full doctor mode and gently began to turn Riley's arms taking in the damage. He looked up and said, "I've been through medical school, and those are not cat scratches." Before Riley could interrupt he continued, "I've talked to Nico, who talked to Skyler, and they are both worried about you."

"Riley," he continued, "I know someone who works with the mental health industry. She is not a therapist, but simply someone who listens and cares. We would all like you to talk to her."

Riley was now starring at his lap, and Will noticed he crying. "I-I can't do this anymore." He sobbed. "I can't put up with the stress. I can't put up with being a failure. The only reason I haven't killed myself is because of Sky. I can't hurt him like that after all he's done for me." The water works were on full display. Will put his arm on Riley shoulder and they both sat their in silence.

Sky stood at the living room entrance unannounced to both of them. He didn't realize how bad Riley had gotten, and he didn't know how to help.