Heartbroken

　　BEN

　　When I get home to Josef’s place, the house is unusually quiet. I shut the door behind me and take a tentative step in. The television is on but no one is the parlour. I jog up the stairs to my room and stop.

　　Josef is in my room. He’s not alone. Mum is with him. They look up at the sound of my footsteps. I see fear in her eyes when she stands to hug me briefly. I am left alone with Josef. He pats the spot on the bed for me and I stagger towards him to sit.

　　“Benjamin.” It cannot be good. He never calls me by my full name. “I need you to be honest with me.” My palms moisten and I swipe them against my jeans. His tone of voice spells bad news. “Are you in trouble?” I shake my head, quite unsure what he might be talking about. He places both hands on his knees and sighs. “Are you doing drugs? Be honest.”