"Hey, Allan," Lily greeted warmly as he stepped through the door. He smiled faintly, pulling her gently into a side hug. "Are you ready?"
She nodded, grabbing her bag.
"You don't really look happy," Lily observed, her voice soft with concern.
Allan exhaled through his nose and glanced toward Dylan's bedroom door. "Yeah, I'm not. I just… don't feel good about leaving Dylan alone right now. He's not okay, and even if he doesn't say it, I know he really needs someone."
Lily touched his arm. "Allan, you can't carry him on your back. That's just how Dylan is, he shuts down when things get overwhelming. I think he needs time. Time to think, to feel, to figure things out without all the noise. Trust me, he'll find his way through this."
