#ffo!john

"Faith and religion hadn't brought her much so far, but she could hope it would if she kept trying."

"But, even so, he tried to stay gentle. He wanted to be a better dad, after all."

"That it meant he was loved, adored, cherished. The best thing to happen to anyone, and the best thing to stay with a specific someone."

"And, as usual, he, of course, voiced this discomfort—one of the few he knew he could voice."

"He didn't have to respond—he knew what would probably happen, even if he did decide to say no. The disgusting man who kidnapped him would do whatever he wanted anyway. He always did. It wouldn't be different now, so what was the point?"

"The boy, meanwhile, suddenly lost his chipper attitude and his chattiness and went over to the man, grabbing a hold of his hand and arm in a way that didn't seem too father-son, more uncomfortably intimate to him, at least, as the man shook a can."

"If it was, he was ruined, tainted. He was a mess—and not a good mess. And he needed to be fixed, put back in his place."

"With his friend's hand still on his cheek, he leaned in to do what was asked, but didn't get too far. These moments never got to be truly comforting or normal."

"Unlike most mornings, Albert Shaw was brought back into the world of the conscious and awake with no teenage boy half-dressed, or entirely undressed, sleeping in bed beside him, under the warm sheets. Instead, the bed was cold, empty on the other side, much unlike the usual morning where it was warm with his favorite boy, who would usually be exhausted from their previous fun."

"All of a sudden, his head was fuzzy. Full of cotton, it felt, as he took a weak step forward. His legs protested at the attempt, and he swayed after the small step before he tipped forward."

"There was a silence that filled the room. An uncomfortable silence, one that was awkward and made him want to let the tears fall, or maybe run. Instead, though, he just frantically shook his head, taking a few steps back. He didn't know how he felt right now, apart from terrified. He didn't know how he felt about this boy, either. Maybe he hated him."

"Stuck with a man whose name he never learned despite learning the man’s body, it's most all he remembers, save for bits and pieces."

"His “couple days” quickly turned into a few. Which then turned into ten. Then that turned into a month. Then, that turned into a month and a half."

"He looked weirdly uncomfortable—the same sort of uncomfortable their dad would always look."

"“Maybe that's why you're so weird. Your own house freaks you out.”"

"But, no, he liked to think he was merciful; he wouldn't let him do that, oh, no."