The sound of the door slammed at the restroom’s stall made Sean jump. His breath was raspy when he snarled.
“I told you not to go by bus anymore, didn’t I?”
Jonah rolled his eyes in pain, as well as annoyance, as he nursed the bruises on his torso and kept his eyes down. He curled up on the floor beside the sink. He still didn’t say anything when Sean kneeled down beside him.
“If you’d let me pick you up, this would never have happened.”
“This always happens,” muttered Jonah.
“What?”
“Come on,” said Jonah, gritting his teeth as the pain flared again when he moved. “They’d hurt me anyway when you’re not around.”
“They mustn’t.” Sean gathered Jonah up, about to take him in his arms if Jonah hadn’t stopped him. “No one is supposed to touch you besides me. I swear. No one will ever lay
