She felt him curling up tighter, within himself and she didn't know what to do, what to say. She wanted to get help but she didn't want to leave him. And she was sure she couldn't get him up so they could just leave. And suddenly the wonder of the fireworks turned into anger at them. When would they just stop? Couldn't they stop already?

"Bob, it's me." She never had to deal with the boys who had shell shock, she wasn't allowed near them because they could be dangerous. She wasn't sure if she should try to hold him or if that would set him off. And for a moment she was a little scared of what this might make him do. Would he hurt her if she tried to touch him more? And even worse was the idea of him going into some sort of shock. God, how could she have been so selfish in wanting to bring him here? Why hadn't she thought of how fireworks would sound to him?

She reached up to comb her fingers through his hair as soothing as she could, though his hands covering his head made it difficult. "Bob, please. It's okay. You're okay." And that was all she could say, over and over, that it was okay, that he was okay, sometimes a few words of love. And the sound he made broke her heart, ripped it from her chest as she tried to pull him to her gently. She didn't know if people around them were noticing though they were in a secluded spot so maybe not. "It's okay. You're okay."

Please be okay.