“What else do you want from me?” I almost burst into tears.

“Tell me what happened.” I heard his footsteps approaching, he stopped in front of me. My heart raced even faster.

“I’ve already told you.”

Then his hands gently grabbed either side of my shoulder, and his voice softened but still demanding, “You seemed … out of sorts lately. Tell me.”

He willed me to look at him, and my heart caught in my throat.

A wave of desperation ...