NIRELLE

I could see the subtle smile on his face; he was trying not to show it, but it came up. I began to wonder what kind of trauma he was dealing with that made him stay locked up, not wanting to meet with the outside world. We were both locked in prisons of our own, but he locked himself in and threw the key outside. I was locked from the outside. Now that I have somehow found a way out, I am going to make sure I find the key and let him out.

"Are you even listening to me?" his voice was ...