Your sobs of despair could be heard from outside the school bathroom. Alhaitham, who just so happened to pass the hallway, stopped reading, putting the book down on his bench, listening intently. When you finally dragged yourself out of the restroom you were surprised and embarrassed to see him sitting there. Hopefully he hadn’t heard you.

Curiosity warred with his common sense but he opened his mouth, bluntly speaking. “Why were you crying?”