we might be hurting, but I'm ready for the free fall
Whatever Soh had been expecting, it was decidedly not this. Perhaps she should have, given the tone of Jude's letter, but for some reason she'd thought that there would be a more cheerful air to the house. Instead, it was dark and dismal, not the sort of scene to be welcoming a long lost family member home. Something was wrong.
Jude was sitting on the couch, his head in his hands, and for a moment Soh assumed the worst - that he'd found his maman, but that she was gone - and her breath caught in her throat, apologies already on the tip of her tongue as she made her way through the furniture towards her best friend. But then he looked up, choked out her name, and in seconds he had met her in the middle of the room, burying his face into her shoulder and beginning to shake.
Soh's arms went around him immediately as she leaned her cheek on his head, rubbing his back comfortingly. She wanted to be a comfort to him, just as he'd always been for her, but for once, she didn't know what to say. How was one supposed to react in this sort of situation? So for a moment, she simply held him, squeezing him close as though to say, I'm here. I've got you.
Finally, reaching a hand up, she stroked the back of his head lovingly. "I've got you," she whispered. "Whatever you need, I'm here."
Jude was sitting on the couch, his head in his hands, and for a moment Soh assumed the worst - that he'd found his maman, but that she was gone - and her breath caught in her throat, apologies already on the tip of her tongue as she made her way through the furniture towards her best friend. But then he looked up, choked out her name, and in seconds he had met her in the middle of the room, burying his face into her shoulder and beginning to shake.
Soh's arms went around him immediately as she leaned her cheek on his head, rubbing his back comfortingly. She wanted to be a comfort to him, just as he'd always been for her, but for once, she didn't know what to say. How was one supposed to react in this sort of situation? So for a moment, she simply held him, squeezing him close as though to say, I'm here. I've got you.
Finally, reaching a hand up, she stroked the back of his head lovingly. "I've got you," she whispered. "Whatever you need, I'm here."
Sohalia
