My arms tighten around her and I hold her with every part of me. “No matter what happens, I’m going to be here for you.”
She presses her face closer to my chest, balling herself up against me. “Promise me you’ll never leave me.” It’s hard to hear her through the crying, but the soft utter of the words are enough that a few tears escape my eyes. I want to wipe them away so she can’t see me falling apart, but I don’t want to let her go either.
“I promise.” I mean it more than I’ve meant anything. “No matter what happens, I’ll always be here for you.”
I want to tell her right there that I love her, but know it’s in no way the right time. So instead try to show her, holding her and letting her cry, vowing to myself to try and find a way to take some of her pain away, no matter what it takes.