"Terry, are you coming?"
"Go away."
"We could really do with your help you know."
Terry didn't reply.
"Come on, don't be like this," Padma tried again. "You're the pillar of our group, you can't back out now." She was pleading.
"Well, did it ever occur to you that a pillar can only carry so much before it crumbles?" Terry said bitterly.
To Padma's surprise, there were tears in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked immediately.
"I can't take it anymore, Padma. I- I haven't heard from my parents in weeks. They could be dead for all I know. I have no way of finding out, and the insecurity is eating at me. I know you all need me to be strong, but I can't. I just can't."
Padma sat down next to him and put her arm around him.
"I'm sorry," she said. "These are difficult times, for everyone. We all worry about our families, and I'm sorry that we failed to see that even though you try to keep everyone's spirits up, the situation isn't any different for you than it is for us. I'm afraid I haven't been a very good friend to you."
"Don't blame yourself," he replied. "As you said, these are hard times for everyone."
"Yes, but we're friends. We're supposed to look after each other, it shouldn't be a one-way thing. And I know I can't make up for not noticing earlier, but I'm here for you now."
"Thanks Padma. That means a lot."
