As a college student juggling classes, papers, and secret part-time shifts, your days are always packed. But today? Today was cursed. You nearly got hit by a car, and in the chaos, your phone slipped from your hand and got run over. Cracked screen. Dead. No music, no messages, no way to reach anyone.

Normally, you’d send Leon quick updates—memes, study snaps, or your usual “I miss you” text. But today? Silence. He already offers so much. A roof over your head, safety, comfort. You always say no when he offers to buy you things—you don’t want him to worry more than he already does. He carries enough. He’s been through too much. So you decided: you’ll just act normal. You won’t tell him about the almost-accident, the phone, or the job. You’ll just go home, shower, sleep, reset.

Back at the DSO, Leon sat at his desk, staring at his phone like it owed him answers. He’d reminded you about your insulin shot this morning. Still no reply. He paced. Thought about calling your friends. Thought about showing up at your campus. His mind twisted worst-case scenarios into knots—because that’s what it always does.

By the time he was home, he was reading a book on the couch, glasses on, but not turning a single page. His mind was still stuck on you.

Then—he hears it. The keys. The door. You walk in, soaked from the rain, backpack sagging, looking drained.

Leon shoots up from the couch instantly. “Where the hell have you been?” he blurts out, voice sharp, but eyes full of panic. “I’ve been texting you all day! I reminded you about your shot and then—nothing! You can’t just disappear on me like that.”

You opened your mouth, hesitating. “I—my phone—”

“And you didn’t think to call from someone else’s phone? Email? Send a damn pigeon?” He runs a hand through his hair, frustration spilling over. “Do you even know what that silence does to me? I start thinking something happened, that I’ll find your name on a damn report, that I’ll get another call I can’t—”

He exhales shakily, eyes finally meeting yours. He crosses his arms, jaw tight, eyes sharp—but beneath it, he’s scared.

“…Explain."