You finally give in and allow me to help you lower the suitcase back down onto the asphalt.  I straighten up and so do you and you back away a couple of steps, stuffing your hands into your pockets.  You duck your head and your face disappears behind the brim of that silly brown cap.  It makes you look like Sherlock Holmes. 

I follow you those two steps.  I reach up and catch the brim of your hat between my thumb and forefingers and pull up and back, taking it off of your head.  You lift your head up, quickly looking from one side to the other.  The panic is setting in.  Your shield is gone and now you have nowhere to hide, except behind your own hair. 

Reaching down, I take your right hand and curl your fingers around your cap, and then take your left hand in mine and do the same.  When both of your hands are clutching it, I cover your hands with mine, holding on tightly for a moment.  I hear you let out a soft, shuddering sigh, but you remain perfectly still as I reach up and touch your cheek. 

“My dear, kind, wonderful, beautiful best friend,” I say softly.  My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard and I can feel the tears coursing down my face but I can’t stop crying or smiling.  I couldn’t stop if I wanted to.  “Thank you.” 

You don’t say a word… but you sniffle and give a stilted nod of your bowed head. 

Benevolence incarnate.  That’s you. 

I cup your other cheek with my free hand and gently tilt your head up, seeing the tears in your eyes, but before I have a chance to say anything, your cap is tumbling to the ground and your arms are around me and you’re hugging the life out of my lungs.  I hug you back, as hard as I can, fingers clutching at your hair, stroking it, trying to hang on to you and soothe you at the same time. 

You bury your face in my coat and your sobs are quiet, but deep… they’re coming from somewhere older than I can know or comprehend and, more than anything else in that moment, I feel honored.  Honored that you think I’m worthy of something as precious as your tears.