Maureen lay in bed her body shaking with sobs, her mascara running and her black dress wrinkled. She'd just come home from Collin's funereal.
Suddenly there was a weight on the bed, without moving she knew it was Joanne. A mocha colored arm gently wrapped around her waist, pulling her close as a hand ran softly through her messy curls.
"I can't believe…he's gone." Maureen managed to get out in between sobs. "How am I supposed to...I hate him."
"You don't hate him Mo, you love him so much that you feel like, the world should stop because he's not here. So much that you don't how you're going to wake up tomorrow without him." Joanne whispered.
Maureen let out a sigh, turning in Joanne's arm so they were facing each other. She laid her head against Joanne's shoulder, muffling her sobs.
"I can't tell you that it's going to be ok and I know if I did you wouldn't believe me. But I can tell you that he would still want you to live, enjoy enough of life for the both of you." Joanne said her voice cracking as she fought back her own tears.
For the moment, Maureen's pain was dulled. Because in Joanne's arms she was safe, she'd found shelter, in Joanne's arms she had a sanctuary.