Unraveling the Truth

Judd broke the silence, his voice firm but curious, as he asked, "Jay, how did you manage to get into this situation?" Jay's eyes darted around the room, his gaze unfocused, as if he was trying to recall a distant memory. He stuttered out a shaky response, "M-my daddy... he sold me... for money... but he promised I'd be back home soon." Judd's eyebrow shot up at this revelation. Why was a kid Jay's age calling his dad "daddy"? It was a term typically used by younger children, not a teenager like Jay. And why on earth would Jay's dad sell him in the first place? Everyone in town knew Jay's family, his father being a famous lawyer. It was unthinkable that he would sell his own son for money. Judd's mind was racing with questions, but he knew he needed to tread carefully. The boy looked like he hadn't eaten in a while, and Judd didn't want him to pass out on him. "Listen, Jay," Judd said, his tone softer now, "I need you to stay right here, okay? If you try to leave this room, I'll hurt you. Do you understand?" Jay nodded, his eyes still wide with fear. Judd turned and left the room, locking the door behind him. He headed downstairs to the kitchen, grabbing some food and water that he thought Jay might like. As he walked back up to his room, he couldn't help but wonder what had driven Jay's father to make such a drastic decision. When Judd entered the room, Jay looked up at him warily. Judd handed him a sandwich, some fruit, and a bottle of water. Jay's eyes lingered on the food, and for a moment, Judd thought he saw a glimmer of hope. But then Jay's gaze flicked back to Judd's face, and he looked hesitant. Judd encouraged him, "Go on, Jay. Eat. You must be starving." Jay's eyes dropped to the food, and he slowly began to eat. At first, he took small bites, but as he continued to eat, he started to devour the food more quickly. Judd watched him, a mixture of concern and curiosity on his face. As Jay ate, Judd couldn't help but think about Jay's family. What kind of people were they? What had driven them to make such a desperate decision? And what did they think had happened to Jay? Judd's mind was filled with questions, but he knew he needed to focus on getting Jay to open up to him. For now, Judd was content to let Jay eat and drink, hoping that with a full stomach, the boy would be more willing to talk. As Jay finished his food and took a long drink of water, Judd asked, "So, Jay, tell me more about your family. What made your dad decide to sell you?" Jay's eyes dropped, and Judd could see the fear and uncertainty written all over his face.