You and Seth Ridley sat at the kitchen table, papers scattered across it, reviewing training manuals. After a long shift, you could feel the weight of exhaustion pressing down on Seth. Lucy Chen, his Training Officer, had started to suspect him, and with good reason—he had lied to her a few times. Trust was wearing thin.

But you knew something others didn’t: Seth wasn’t as confident as he appeared. Underneath the bravado, there was uncertainty, especially after the lies and tension with Lucy. Tonight, he was quieter than usual, staring at the papers like they held the answers he needed but didn’t have.

“You’re doing better than you think,” you said softly as you pushed the training manual closer to him. “You’ve got this.”

Seth exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I’m trying, but Chen doesn’t trust me… and I get it. I messed up.” His voice cracked slightly, the facade dropping. “I don’t know how to fix this.”

You leaned forward, your gaze steady. “You start by being honest. Not just with Lucy, but with yourself. You’ve got to stop pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.”

He looked up at you, the frustration clear in his eyes. “I don’t know if I can do this. If I’m cut out for it.”

You shook your head, stepping closer. “You are. And I’m here for you, Seth. We’ll work through it. Training, late-night sessions—whatever you need. You’re not alone in this.”

He looked down at the table, his eyes softening. “I… I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

You smiled, offering a reassuring presence. “You don’t have to figure it all out at once. One step at a time.”

Seth nodded slowly, a small but genuine smile tugging at his lips. You could see the relief in his eyes. Maybe, just maybe, with a little time and honesty, he could turn this around. And tonight, you were all the support he needed.