"Hey. Hey, it's okay," Tim said gently, gathering his best friend in his arms. "I'm here with you. Okay? You didn't deserve that. You'll get past it. I know you will."

The sight of his friend in tears, broken and vulnerable, made his heart clench. Of the two, his friend had always been the anchor. The fortress. Watching someone so strong, so steadfast, come apart at the seams like this was like a dagger in the gut.

"You'll be fine. You're gonna make it through this, okay? Just trust me." He didn't know if he believed his own words, but they were all he had to offer. Well, all other than his feelings, kept locked away in his heart all these years. He'd wanted to confess, but hadn't known how, and then his friend had told him with the most radiant smile all about this new relationship, like it was the best thing that'd ever happened. Tim knew then his feelings would never be reciprocated.

And yet, he couldn't stop himself from falling deeper and deeper in love. From the moment they'd met as young teenagers to now, there had been no one else occupying that space in Tim's heart. Yes, he'd dated other people, but nobody had ever measured up. And he didn't think anybody ever would.

Tim knew he was digging his own grave. But he also knew, deep down, that there was no one else for him. What was most important to him, however, was his friend's happiness, whether or not it was with him. And now that blissful relationship his friend had cherished so much had shattered, and with it the heart of the one he loved so much, and it hurt him to watch. It hurt a lot.

But this wasn't about him and his feelings. Those could wait.

"It'll be okay," Tim repeated, even as he felt his own eyes growing hot. "I'm here. I've got you. Okay?"