A second of silence passes, then another, and another, and I’m desperate to hear his thoughts. “Say something. Please.” His mouth opens and closes, only to open again, but there’s no sound. No words. No screams. No whispers of the pain he’s feeling inside. It’s just…silent. With a trembling chin, he drops his hold on me and pushes open the door. I grab his arm as he steps off to the side, making room for me to exit. “Please…”

