Jonathan stepped out of his office and was on his way to meet Chris Moyer when he noticed that Coretta was crying.

            “What’s the matter? Are you okay?”

            She wiped her tears, gathered her nerves. “Yes, I’ll be okay.”

            He leaned over. “Are you sure?” A look of concern was in his features.

            She looked up at him. “Yes. Just feeling a little sick, that’s all.” She could tell by the way those big staring eyes of his focused on her that he didn’t believe her.

            “Wanna go home for the remainder of the day? Because I’m sure I can manage.”

            “No, I’m just…” she couldn’t finish before choking up again.

            He walked behind her desk and stood next to her. Then he put his arm around her and said, “Coretta, you need to let whatever it is that you’re containing go. You can’t continue walking around with the world on your shoulders. It will age you.”

            She felt so safe in his arms. She wanted to share everything with him. Wanted him to take the pain of the world from her. Wanted him to say he loved her and tell her that everything would be fine. That he was there and no one will ever hurt her again. But she couldn’t. He was not responsible for the nasty hand she’d been dealt. She was determined to make things right in her life. It wasn’t his job to do so.

            He released her. She knew he was only being Jonathan Wesley, always caring and kind and his hug had nothing to do with her being someone special to him.

            “I think I’ll go home.” she said, getting up and grabbing her belongings before she said something she would later regret.