When Mrs. Ashford returned to Ren’s ward, she found her husband trying to coax their son to get him to eat. But without making a single sound, Ren refused to even so much as look at his father.
He continued to lie in the same position as before, staring out without really taking anything in at the window to the side, where the early evening sky could be seen gathering dark clouds. It looked like it was going to rain again.
Giving up for the moment, Mr. Ashford sighed and placed down the tray of hospital food on the bedside table.
He looked at his wife, who had taken a seat beside him.
“What did the school say?” he asked quietly. He followed where she was looking and also stared at their son’s unmoving back.
“They’re not expelling him,” Mrs. Ashford answered, her voice low but soundin
