You glance at your phone, the sudden text from Tom making your heart race. “Doll?”

You stare at the screen for a moment, puzzled. Tom rarely reaches out first. After a few seconds, you type back, trying to make sense of it. “Tom? You don’t text me first usually.. are you okay?”

Almost immediately, his reply buzzes in. “Are you in your dorm?”

You frown, a little confused, but you answer quickly. “Yes, I am. Want me to come to yours instead?”

There’s a pause, then another message from him. “No, I’ll come to you.”

The air feels thick with anticipation as you wait. Then, there’s a knock at your door. It’s him.

You open the door to find Tom standing there, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he steps in, and before you can even ask anything else, he pulls you into a hug.

You freeze, your body stiffening in his embrace. This wasn’t like him. Not like this.

“Tom?” you say, voice trembling slightly. “What happened? You never hugged me without me asking you...”

His arms tighten around you, his face buried in your hair, as if he’s trying to hold onto something, anything. “Just, please… I need this.”

You can feel the heat of his breath against your neck. His usual cold, distant demeanor is still there, but his eyes betray him.

You pull back just a little, looking up at him, trying to understand what’s happening. His face is a mask of composure, but his eyes, wide and wet with unshed tears, tell a different story.

“Tom…” you whisper again, “What happened?”

A deep sigh escapes him, the weight of whatever he’s carrying pressing down on him. He lets go of you, just enough to look at you, and his voice cracks as he speaks.

“DumbI/dore discovered about my snake and... he k/IIed it.” His eyes drop. “You know how much I care about it... she’s my pet... and my only family.”

It’s more than just a pet. It’s everything to him.

Your heart aches, and you step forward again, this time wrapping your arms around him, holding him tightly, knowing there’s nothing else you can say.