Embrace

It was the embrace that startled me.
Then it was the mother's tears that made me cry.
In that freeze frame when she hugged me, it was more than gratitude I felt.
And I'm trying to find out why.
With tears in her eyes, she said "I couldn't have done it without you", but it was still more than gratitude I felt.
And I still don't know what, don't know why, don't know how.
But I felt completely overwhelmed.
I went in fearful, apprehensive and anxious.
It was that all too familiar heart beating so fast. So fast.
I had my script, with help from her daughter.
But I was still fearful to break the news from her daughter.
My across-the-aisle neighbour told me to hold my heart and breathe deep, and to get a glass of warm water.
I had already done that, not with water but with hot tea.
But I was still fearful.
It could be the general association with his suicide.
I'm still trying to find out.
But the incredible thing is, I went in fearful and came out connected.
It's like someone reached into my heart and gently pressed the cry button.
I just felt like crying.
I am crying.
It's just so deep.
I can't explain it.
I hope I can.