Her mantra feels too familiar. 'I can't yet. There's others who need me. Others who need my back unbowed, who need strength in my eyes and not tears.' Perhaps achingly, hypocritically, familiar.

Then maybe it was time to accept he was hypocrite.

His fingers tighten a little in her hair. "You can tell him later, when you see him next...you can catch him when he hears and be strong for him. Right now, let me catch you. I promise I can. I want to."