“Thank you,” I whispered. He started to protest, but I said again, more firmly, “Thank you.” I didn’t mean to hold on so long. But it had been a long time since I’d hugged someone. I didn’t realize how much I’d needed it. I couldn’t bring myself to pull away because the tears just kept coming, rolling down my cheeks and sinking into the fabric of his shirt. “Just accept it,” I murmured. “Never.” But his hand fell to the small of my back, and he didn’t pull away.
