Unexpected sympathy from a man I never thought would ever give any. He gets why I’m hurt and tells me it’s okay to be so. Somehow it makes me feel a little better that it’s okay not to be okay.

I never knew I needed anyone to say that to me before, but I do. I am so tired of being strong and alone. I never thought that message would come from him, of all people.

When the door opens on the apartment floor, he pulls me into him by the arm and drapes his about my shoulders to ...