She didn't expect the warm hug that the man offered. It had been so long since someone had touched her for no other reason than to provide her comfort. At first, she didn't know how to respond. Her entire body tensed, but he did not release her. When she allowed herself the vulnerability to melt into the embrace, the tears she was ordinarily so good at holding in came bursting out in a torrent. He patted her back and whispered soothing words of "there, there" and "it'll all look brighter in the morning'.