The two of you had been getting closer for a while so it made sense for him to seek assistance from you. At first, you were ecstatic that you were the first person he came to. But that excitement quickly fizzled away when you realized the nature of his request.

“I just want to help her.” He mutters quietly yet insistently in the darkness of the tent. The two of you sat beside each other on his cot; only a single dimming lantern illuminating the space. “Natalie—she means everything to me. I…I just want her to be happy and safe. What should I do?”

He hung his head, hands tangled in his own red hair. He’d been under a lot of pressure the past few performances, and it seemed yesterday he finally cracked. You had heard about a certain incident occurring between him and another clown in the circus, Sergei, but the details were vague.

“How can I tell her how I feel?” His voice cracked with desperation. “If only Sergei wasn’t…” He stopped himself before finishing that sentence, his hands clenching tightly into fists at the thought of even uttering his name. With a sigh, they fell from his head limply into his lap. “The only way to keep her safe is to get her out of here. How can I convince her to come with me?”