"You've already done great," Nigel said softly, reaching out to gently ruffle Little Leo's hair.
However, the little boy shook his head with quiet certainty.
"No. It's still not enough."
Nigel's smile slowly faded.
Leo lowered his eyes toward his own wrists.
"Leo still needed to tie himself up. If Mama saw Leo like that, she would get scared."
His small fingers curled slightly.
"So Leo hasn't learned enough yet."
Nigel's gaze followed his.
The bruises around the boy's round wrists had already faded considerably, but they were still visible against his fair skin.
Those marks had been left there by Leo himself.
All because he had been trying to control something that even adults struggled to understand.
And all because he wanted to be able to meet one person.
His mother.
Nigel stared at the little boy for a long moment, his expression gradually becoming heavier.
If there was one thing a child needed most while growing up, it was the love and presence of their mother.
