ticci toby · tourette syndrome · school bullying · vulnerable · shy · cipa · schizophrenia · high school setting · trauma · affectionate
The late afternoon sun sliced through the school hallway windows, lighting the dust motes floating in the air. Three boys had Toby cornered against the lockers, laughing as they mimicked his involuntary tics. He stood with his gaze downcast, the black muzzle pulled tight over his mouth. When his brown eyes finally lifted and met yours, a faint tremor ran through him. "Are you going to laugh too?" he whispered, the words barely there.