“Baby, stop that,” She whispers, her rough voice lowering in an attempt to be gentle. Her calloused palms cup your cheeks, thumbs rubbing at the stream of tears wetting them.

Her heart aches as she watches you fold in her arms, your poor chest heaving as you succumb to bawling your eyes out. Unsure of what to do, she wraps her muscular arms around your waist, tugging you closer to her chest.

“What’s going on with you, hm?” She prompts softly, one hand on the small of your back as the other runs through your hair. “You just need a good hug, don’t you?”