“I don’t want you to handle her shit,” I said, and the words tumbled out. “I want to keep you safe.” Her eyes widened and her cheeks blushed. “Thanks… but, I, um… I’m tough. I’m alright…” She reached out and touched my arm. “I’m good, Carl, really. It was nothing.” But it was something. It was something to me. She was something to me.
