Hard Times

"I- I don't know . . . Kate," he pauses and for a moment, it looks like he might back away. He closes his eyes with a slow exhale. He opens his eyes again to look into my eyes.

"Can I hug you?" he whispers. I open my mouth to answer but I snap it close again.

He wants to give me a hug? There is a moment of silence and I realize I have to answer. Just before he turns away, I gather all my courage.

"Yes," I say with a raspy voice. I clear my throat before I answer again. "Yes, I would like that." A wide smile spreads on my face but Jake seems uncertain. I cannot exactly read the emotion in his eyes. He seems mostly confused, but there is a hint of something else as well.

"Okay," he breathes out and pulls me into a tight embrace. His arms enfold me as my arms wrap around his waist. I let out a small sigh of contentment.

It almost feels like the hug is taking away some of my pain. I can stay like this all day. This is the best hug I have ever received. Oh, Emily, you are in a lot of troub