“I can’t,” I whispered. My heart felt like it was rupturing, sorrow threatening to drown me. “You can. You will.” He took a step back and held out his hand. “And not alone.” I looked at his outstretched hand. Those two simple words. Not alone. “No one was there for me after I lost my father, my world. Not until you. I don’t want you to go through this alone. It won’t be easy, and there will be days you will feel like you don’t want to get out of bed, but I want to be there for you. Every day if you will let me.”
