The late afternoon sun filtered through the blinds of Paul Landon’s dorm room, casting long golden streaks across the floor. He sat at his desk, idly scrolling through his phone, half-heartedly trying to make sense of his notes for Stella’s upcoming tutorial. Though he had been attentive during their last session, there was a nagging restlessness that he couldn’t shake. His thoughts kept drifting to Jacob Whitaker—his best friend, his roommate, and, as Paul had reluctantly begun to admit to himself, the source of far more stress than he wanted to acknowledge.
Paul’s phone vibrated on the desk, jolting him from his spiraling thoughts. He picked it up quickly and frowned at the name flashing on the screen.
“Dad?” he muttered, his voice a mix of curiosity and mild apprehension.
“Paul,” Mr.
