There was no way I could handle it.

“Theo, I don’t want to be… awake when they come in here,â€? I said. “I don’t want to be there.â€?

“Go back to sleep, you’ll be fine.â€?

“I… can’t. I’ve been trying… Dr. Karon said, back in the car… he said that you took energy from other things-“

“No.â€?

“Theo, I can’t do this.â€? I started crying again. “Please.â€?

“It’s more dangerous than you think. I can’t… sometimes, I can’t stop. I can’t keep from… killing you.â€?

“Theo, please, I don’t care, just do it.â€?

“No, I can’t.â€?

“Theo! Please, this is all I’m asking you.â€?

He went silent.

“Theo,â€? I pleaded.

He stood up and went to my bed, putting his hand in mine.

Most of the little amount of energy I’d had disappeared at once. I was slowly falling asleep. I tried to thank him, but I can’t remember if I did or not.

Someone came into the room. I wasn’t completely drained of energy yet, and he threw Theo to the side. Theo hit something, and it fell to the ground with a deafening crash. “What were you thinking?â€?