And then the worst case scenarios seem to spill out of his skull and splash into real life. Something grabs a hold of him and squeezes so tight he can hardly breathe. It paralyzes him.

He forgot 'little idiot', cuts the voice through the silence. You should know by now to never trust anybody. August sold you out. Your own mother betrayed you. When will you learn that nobody actually gives a shit about you?

Wilhelm takes a halting step backwards as if he's been punched. His fingers hook into his jacket sleeves. His voice comes out small and tight like a fist, cracked open like bloody knuckles.

"What?"