"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering." ~Ben Okri


JJ stepped into her house.

The lights were dimmed, the furniture neatly arranged; there wasn't a speck of dust in sight.

"Will? Henry?"

Her voice echoed in the spacious room.

That's strange…they were home when I called earlier…

She tentatively fingered her gun, which was strapped to her waist.

No; everything's fine.

Maybe they're upstairs…

She dropped her bags in front of the door and carefully navigated her way up the staircase.

As she reached the top, she hesitated.

"Will?"

Again, there was no answer.

Damn it, where are they?

JJ cautiously moved down the hallway, her mind registering every sound, her heartbeat erratic.

She took a deep breath as she stopped in front of Henry's room and pressed her ear against the door, listening.

Nothing.

Where—

Then, she heard it.

The tiny giggle.

The frantic shushing that followed.

Then, silence.

JJ sighed in relief.

They're okay…

She shoved open the door to Henry's room and barged in, eager to see her baby boy.

"Mommy!"

A small bundle tackled her legs.

She couldn't stop the tears that streaked down her face as she reached down to embrace her son.

"Hey, little man…"

"I missed you, Mommy."

She lifted him up off the ground, brought him close…

…and hugged him against her chest—so tight.

As she stood there, in the doorway, rocking her son in her arms, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

Will.

She met her fiancé's gaze.

He smiled at her.

She smiled back.

"I love you," he mouthed.

"I love you, too."

And just like that, all was well.

She felt Henry squirm in her grip.

"Mommy hug me too tight."

"I'm sorry, baby."

JJ loosened her grip on her son and glanced down at him.

She brushed the boy's soft, blonde hair out of his eyes.

"I love you so much."

Henry buried his face into his mother's chest.

"Mommy..."

And that was all it took.

For the tears to overflow.

For the sobs to wrack her body.

For the dreaded thoughts to overwhelm her mind…

I almost died.

I almost left Will…and my team.

I almost left my son alone…in this horrible, terrifying world.

The concrete walls came tumbling down...

And it was okay.

Because in her own home, she didn't have to be strong.

Here, she could feel.

All the guilt, the pain, the fear that had been building up inside…

She let it all go.

Because here, she was protected...

From the world and the evil in it.

The same evil that invaded her home each and every day and threatened to burrow inside.

That existed in the darkest of places.

Breathe, JJ. Just breathe.

She felt Henry's tiny hands grip her body.

She felt Will wrap his arms around her, and she let him pull her close.

Mmm…so warm…

And just like that, she was safe again.


"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness but of power. They are messengers of overwhelming grief and of unspeakable love." ~Washington Irving