Kolton sat against his bed frame inside his bedroom. University held no appeal today since his friends had made other plans that required his presence elsewhere.
The rubber ball bounced rhythmically between his palm and the wall. His sleeveless black shirt revealed the defined muscles that flexed with each movement. Though his sharp gaze tracked the ball's path, his mind wandered to deeper concerns.
"Kolton, you..."
Valencia Zachary stopped speaking when she reached his doorway.
Her son appeared completely absorbed in his repetitive game. Yet beneath his concentrated expression, she detected something troubling in those intense eyes.
She entered quietly and settled onto the bed's edge where he leaned against the mattress. Her movements were deliberate and gentle.
"Kolton."
The sound of his mother's voice made Kolton grip the ball firmly. He shifted to meet her concerned gaze.
"Mom."
