For some reason BB’s words acted like a double edge sword cutting right through my heart and I began to cry again, which caused BB to respond by hugging me again, only tighter than before. I don’t know why, but I didn’t want BB to let go of me. I wrapped my arms around his back and locked my fingers together as my tears soaked his shirt.
BB’s dad, crying now too, had continued to say something to my Mom and grandparents, which I hadn’t heard most of until I picked up on him saying, “We tried to keep John from going back aboard that boat,” his voice was really breaking up bad as he said, “but he wouldn’t hear it.”
Finally, it took Grandfather forcing my arms apart to pull me off BB. He then walked me to the car where I laid my head in my grandmother’s lap and cried all the way home.