“I know I have to be stronger for her.” Jack said. “But as my regular self? It’s very small. I been through some rough stuff, as a kid, and the scars left are bad. Not as bad as some, I’m no pity party planner but you know. When you go through things that make you fear people entirely, it’s hard to be brave.”
Steve hummed a bit, trying to keep his face neutral as he regarded him. Jack was willing to keep his secret and even help him. He suddenly wanted to help the man in return.
“Do you want to learn how not to be afraid?”
Jack hesitated a moment, his usual self suddenly surfacing for a moment. He’d been afraid of people, crowds, and strangers, for so long. It used to take him hours to prepare himself to go out and get groceries, things to eat. It had improved, considerably, since Katelynn entered his life but sometimes he just couldn’t go with her when she went out to meet her friends.
He hated being afraid.
“…yes.”
Jack Maple 