Being the selfless person that he was, Alex reached for Chloe’s shirt without an explantion and draped it over her shoulders, deciding he had better console her before being rational. He sat down next to her and held out his arms.

It had never felt so good to be held. The sobs came freely and left a large wet patch on Alex’s shirt. He stroked Chloe’s hair and cradled her against him with a kind of easy control he had never felt before when he was around her. When the wordless comfort allowed Chloe to keep the sobs to only shudders of her thin frame, she looked up at Alex.

Eyes distant, her former best friend was staring across the room to an elsewhere she could never reach.

“I’m sorry.â€?

Alex started and came back to reality.

“What?â€?

“I’m sorry,â€? she whispered again.

“You should be.” The words weren’t as icy as they could have been, but coming from Alex, they were a shock. Chloe started to pull away, but Alex’s embrace tightened to keep her close.

God. I really messed up. Chloe thought.