Ernie rubbed her back gently, pulling away just slightly to look at her, “You’re strong, Meg, trust me. I know you.” Ernie wasn’t always the best at comforting people, but he was going to try, “If you need to fall apart, then do it, I’m here for you no matter what, Meggy, it’ll be okay.”
He pulled her close again, and rested his head on top of hers with a bit of a sigh. How many times had he felt like that? Even now, as he sat with her, he felt like he hadn’t done enough to protect his friend. “I do too, sometimes, it’s just something that we all have to live with, I think. But it’ll get easier.”