tord looked back to see a teenager, about the same age as him. he wore an oversized blue hoodie. he had his hands stuffed into the pockets.  black skinny jeans cover the two sticks he called legs. tord assumed this was tom, because he had the same soothing british voice as the stranger on the phone.

"tom?" tord greeted, a smile spreading across his face. he motioned for tom to sit next to him. tom sat down, about an inch or so of space between them.

"i finally meet you." tom said, his dark voids for eyes staring into tords grey, emotionless eyes.

"let me see your wrists. now." tord commanded, getting lost in toms eyes.

tom hesitated, before looking down and slowly lifting his hand and putting it in front of tord. tord snatched his arm and pulled up the sleeve, revealing many cuts, new and old.

"tom!" tord gasped, running his fingers over toms wrist.

"im sorry." tom sighed, a slight audible whimper heard after.

"this ones.... new." tord noted, putting his finger over one, staining his finger with blood. he looked up at tom with big, sad eyes.

tom looked down, dissapointed in himself.

"whe-"

"today." tom interupted, sighing.

tord put his index finger under toms chin, gently pushing his head up, making tom look at him.

"tom... why..?" tord asked. tom was tearing up a bit.

"i~" tom began, but tord couldnt help but to hug tom.

in an instant, he wrapped his arms around him. tom was surprised at first, but then he hugged tord back. his tears stained tords clean red shirt.

"dont do that ever again. swear to me." tord whispered, slightly crying. his eyes were glossed, but he wouldnt let a tear escape.

why was he so emotional for tom, but not any other caller he had encountered?

tom was sobbing, his tears staining tords shirt. tord buried his face into the hood of toms sweatshirt, muffling his whimpers.

"i forgot to say this," tom stuttered, "thank you. you saved me." tom pulled away from tord, giving him a shakey smile.

"its my job." tord noted, holding both of toms hands. despite toms blank eyes, tord saw a sparkle in them. he knew tom felt the same unknown, burning emotion as he had for tom.

hope and love.

"your gonna get through this." tord predicted, confidently. he knew that this was probably the most hes gone for a caller. he never felt the same towards anyone.

"thanks to you, tord." tom grinned, tears still pouring out of his eyes.

this time they were happy tears.

of joy, if those exsisted.