“Notice anything different?â€? he asked.

“No.â€? I had no idea what he was even doing.

“Hm. Now?â€?

“No. What are you doing?â€? I wanted him to stop.

“How about now?â€?

“Get away from her!â€? shouted Theo, storming in through the doorway.

“Now, Theodore, this is necessary-“

“I said, GET AWAY !â€?

“Okay, okay. Regan, I’ll see you tomorrow. Theodore, goodnight.â€?

Gathering up his things, he left the room. “You didn’t feel any of that?â€? Theo asked, bewildered.

“Feel what?â€?

“He was poking your eye with a… a needle or something, I think. You didn’t know?!â€?

“No, I didn’t feel anything.â€?

Theo walked closer. “I’m sorry.â€?

“Sorry?â€?

“If I’d stayed, he wouldn’t have… done it.â€?

“It’s okay, Theo. It didn’t hurt… which is weird, but there’s nothing to be sorry about. You didn’t know. I didn’t either.â€?

“He can’t do that to you again.â€?

I sighed. “He’s going to get away with everything. If he ‘needs’ to do something, he’s going to do it, as much as I don’t want him to. He already told me: I have no control.”