Open. Waiting.
“Hey, Liam,” I said.
I sat down beside him, not close enough to touch. That was rule number one: don’t touch without warning. Beautiful Boy
“I know,” I said. And I hated that I knew. Open. Waiting. “Hey
“He’s your brother,” my father said once, catching me glaring at Liam as he rocked back and forth on the couch, his own small universe contained within his skin. ” my father said once
Not hello. Not I missed you . Just my name, like it’s the most important word he knows.