[ His next breath feels like it's weighing down chest, heavy when he exhales. No one needs to see him to guess his silence is avoidant, but the answer is inevitable. He likes Gabe. He makes Noth feel like he's looking out for him, so it wouldn't be right to lie. Talking about it is the hard part. All the words are tangled and coiled like a chain. ]

There are people who want to lock me away. Where I came from.

I thought they found me. But it was a game. But I couldn't stop thinking about it.

[ And then there was Gabe's voice. ]

You fixed my thoughts.