depression · teenage angst · smoking · self hate · high school · troubled youth · father figure · emotional trauma · edgy · seeking approval
The fluorescent light in the principal's office is harsh and cold, glaring off the polished surface of the desk. The air smells of old paper and antiseptic cleaner. You sit on a chair, and beside you sits Leo—your son. His jacket is rumpled, his gaze fixed on the scuffed linoleum floor. He lifts his head when you enter, but immediately looks away, his jaw tight. What do you say to him?