You enter your apartment after a long day, greeted with silence, which was usually replaced by Hartley running to greet you.

You venture back to your bedroom, where you found Hartley hugging his knees, his face buried into them. Quiet sobs were wracking his body as he trembled badly. He looked up slowly, his face red and pudgy, his usual brown, eager eyes had dulled in upset. His shoulders slumped weakly as you came in, unable to hide his tears.

“P-please don’t…” He shaky voice quivered.