“Stimulating,” I repeat, slower now. Then it clicks. “Overstimulation.”
Lucy exhales. “Yes.”
I press my lips together, my mind racing ahead of the conversation.
“You know about his diagnosis,” I say, already knowing the answer.
Lucy’s eyes widen slightly. “You do, too?”
“Yeah,” I say. “He told me.”
“Liam said it got loud, a parent showed up, there was a lot happening at once, and Ty shut down. He looked at Liam, told him to take over, and left.”
I nod slowly, piecing it together.
“Okay,” I murmur. “Things are starting to make sense now.”
I think about my phone, and the lack of response to my messages. It’s not like the man I’ve been getting to know.
“So, you really haven’t heard from him?” Lucy asks.
I shake my head. “No. I’ve texted him a few times. Nothing.”
Lucy exhales, shifting her weight. “Liam tried calling, too, but he’s not answering.”
A small, tight feeling starts to settle in my chest.
“He’s probably just decompressing,” Lucy adds. “Or somewhere quiet. But I wanted to come tell you.”
I nod again, even though the movement feels a little too slow, a little too distant.
“Yeah. Thank you,” I say. “I…wish I could do more right now.”
“I know you’ve got a lot going on,” she says gently. “But maybe later, when things settle, you could try reaching out again?”
“I will,” I say immediately. “I’ll get Grandma settled, and then I’ll try him.”
Lucy studies me for a second, then nods. “Okay. Just let us know when you hear from him, and same for us, yeah?”
“I will.”
We move toward the door together, everything feeling slightly off, like a small explosion has shifted the air and it’s too thick to settle back.
“Hey,” she says softly before she leaves, pulling me into a quick hug. “He’s okay. It doesn’t mean anything’s wrong long term.”
I nod against her shoulder. “I know.”
She pulls back, giving me one last look. “Text me when you hear from him.”
“I will.”
She steps out, and I close the door behind her, standing there for a second, hand still on the doorknob, staring at nothing.
Then I turn, moving back into the house slowly, my thoughts starting to catch up with me in a way I don’t like.
Overstimulation.
Too much noise.
