“Hey, you’re okay,” I told him, still holding his cheeks. “I’m okay. Take a deep breath.” He didn’t. He didn’t do anything. I tried to think about what I would want if I was in his shoes, and I hesitated. But it only took one glance at his zoned-out face to know I was going to do it even if he pushed me off and cussed me out later. At least I’d be ready for it. So before I could talk myself out of it, I swept my hands from his cheeks toward the back of his head, then moving one hand to do the same gesture over the top of it too. When he didn’t flinch, I dropped to my knees, ignoring the
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