A change of mind, maybe. All that really mattered was you in my arms. I would have done it sooner, but I had to restrain myself. I watched the tears form in your eyes and I watched you hold them back; play it off as a cold. You're good at playing things off, aren't you?
What did I expect? It's theater class. We're all good at pretending.
But it was not pretend when I held you in my arms for a moment. It wasn't fake when I wished I could absorb all your pain as my own.
I held you, and then I was the first one out the door.