This was new. Diego wasn't a stranger to personal encounters, but he couldn't remember the last time he had held a crying person like this. He wasn't sure what to say to make it better, because he knew nothing would. He knew that his leaving wasn't the only thing upsetting her, but it was no more fixable than her other problems.
As she babbled on about things he didn't fully understand, Diego simply rubbed her back and continued to hug her, listening as best as he could. What he could get from all of this was that her father was dead, and something about voices. He didn't understand that part, because she didn't seem to be the kind of girl that did drugs. But that was good enough.
Feeling her trembling, he gave her a gentle squeeze. "You're okay, Lotte," he whispered. "I promise you. Even though I will be gone, I will not leave you. I am going to give you my e-mail address, and the number of my cell phone."