Phil was angry, angry at himself, with the people that were bullying Dan, with everyone other than Dan.

He was just upset with Dan.

However, Phil was the type of person to  keep his emotions in. Occasionally, he cried, but he made sure than no-one was around. He always told his parents why he was emotional, until he reached secondary school. Then he shut his parents out.

He cried in his room, loudly, and his parents heard his loud sobs. They crept upstairs, as they knew that if they were loud, Phil would stop crying, and say that they were hearing things. They crept into Phil's room, and sat on the bed next to him.

"Nothing" Phil said, without being asked. "Nothing" he repeated, whispering, as his eyes filled with more tears. He angrily wiped them away.

"Phil, tell us. We've never seen you this upset" his dad said, very concerned.

"My boyfriend broke up with me on Monday."

His parents didn't say anything else, but wrapped their arms around them and sat with him for a long time.

The room was silent until Phil finally asked if his parents wanted to know anything else. His parents wanted to know everything, so Phil told them.

They sat silently again after Phil had finished talking. They didn't know what to say.

By this time, it was already dark. Phil fell asleep in his parents arms, with tears still staining his face.