Tessa came up out of her chair as Zack drew her close, leaning on the table as she cradled his head to her chest. She held him protectively, and rubbed his back, lips pressed to the crown of his head as she let him pour his heart out, and whispered reassurances. As he wept, she felt tears come to her own eyes, feeling her heart break for him.
"It's okay," she promised, "I've got you now. He can't make you do anything that you don't want to do. Those things are all on him."