"Claire, stop," I commanded softly. I walked back and closed the door behind us so we'd have total privacy and pointed to a small velvet sofa. "Sit down."
She slowly sat down, pulling her knees tight to her chest like a frightened child.
I sat down on the coffee table right in front of her and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and looked her right in the eye.
"Talk to me," I told her.
Claire quickly shook her head, biting her bottom lip to stop herself from crying again. "I can't, Theo. It's not important. You have enough problems with your family right now. I don't want to bother you."
"You aren't a bother" I said firmly. "Claire, look at me."
She slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet mine.
"For five long years, I was an empty shell," I told her, my voice thick wi
