03-24-2024, 02:33 AM
Jensen immediately recognized someone who didn’t want to be helped.
The dismissiveness of problems as extreme, either no big deal or unsolvable, withdrawal from social life at best and sheer isolation at worst, and most telling was the firm avoidance that when pressed churned sadness to anger were some of the commonalities among resistance that weighed on Jensen’s heart the moment he saw it in Raffe.
Kristian tried, bless him, he really tried to reach through that darkness and offer a hand up. Jensen appreciated the effort, and nodded in acceptance when the effort showed itself to be futile. However, Jensen knew the only way to reach someone in that state was through pure empathy and persistence and to let them know that should they become ready, hope was waiting to be shared.
He should take a dose of his own medicine, he thought, ashamed.
Still, regardless, he felt a kinship with Raffe that he hadn’t felt before. It wasn’t attraction, which was an emotion that he was thus far hesitant to acknowledge in himself, but the ache to help was only growing stronger. It felt like watching a best friend hurling toward a terrible end that he was powerless to halt.
“I’m sorry we bothered you. We can talk about something else..” A shared look gently urged Kristian to do the same. “I like your name, Raffe. Is it short for something?” Changing the subject was a long-shot, but he wanted the conversation to continue without adding undue pressure. He shared a simple smile with Noemi, including her in the conversation.
It was about then that the hosts of the event rang their glasses with the sweet sound of attention requested. Everyone turned toward the stairs, Jensen included, which was when he glimpsed Maksim nearby, and he swallowed nervously.
The dismissiveness of problems as extreme, either no big deal or unsolvable, withdrawal from social life at best and sheer isolation at worst, and most telling was the firm avoidance that when pressed churned sadness to anger were some of the commonalities among resistance that weighed on Jensen’s heart the moment he saw it in Raffe.
Kristian tried, bless him, he really tried to reach through that darkness and offer a hand up. Jensen appreciated the effort, and nodded in acceptance when the effort showed itself to be futile. However, Jensen knew the only way to reach someone in that state was through pure empathy and persistence and to let them know that should they become ready, hope was waiting to be shared.
He should take a dose of his own medicine, he thought, ashamed.
Still, regardless, he felt a kinship with Raffe that he hadn’t felt before. It wasn’t attraction, which was an emotion that he was thus far hesitant to acknowledge in himself, but the ache to help was only growing stronger. It felt like watching a best friend hurling toward a terrible end that he was powerless to halt.
“I’m sorry we bothered you. We can talk about something else..” A shared look gently urged Kristian to do the same. “I like your name, Raffe. Is it short for something?” Changing the subject was a long-shot, but he wanted the conversation to continue without adding undue pressure. He shared a simple smile with Noemi, including her in the conversation.
It was about then that the hosts of the event rang their glasses with the sweet sound of attention requested. Everyone turned toward the stairs, Jensen included, which was when he glimpsed Maksim nearby, and he swallowed nervously.