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Ashley knelt in front of his son. “I need you to be a big boy. You’re doing a great job so far.”

“I’m scared, Dad.” Wyatt clutched the bear tighter. “Am I in trouble? You’re really mad.”

“No, you’re not in trouble. Someone didn’t like something Colt did and they decided to hurt him. It’s not right, but that’s how some people settle problems. That’s the reason I tell you not to hit people at school. It’s not right.” Ashley hugged his son. No one had told him how hard parenting would be or how the singular sight of his son on the verge of tears could bring him to his emotional knees.

“Someone hit him on the playground?”

“Sort of.” He wiped away Wyatt’s tears. “We’ll get through this. Colt’s okay. We’ll cheer him up.”

“Okay.” Wyatt nodded and held tight to Ashley’s hand.

Ashley gathered his wallet, phone and keys as well as his son and headed out to his car. He made sure to lock the door and to remain aware of his surroundings. If someone wanted to hurt Colt, what was the chance they’d want to hurt someone else in the LGBTQ community? He’d been seen with Colt. Would they do something drastic to him? He was paranoid, butHoly Jesus. Nothing makes sense.

Ashley marched Wyatt back to the apartment and called Brenda.Fuck it.They’d wait until the craziness blew over before they used the car. Tonight, he’d enlist the help of his mother and cling to the hope that the world would right itself again.