Febs knew he was just trying to be comforting, but that made it harder. "I can't tell you." It came out as choked sob. She realized she'd left that open last time and now she had to be very clear and extra careful about what she said next. She wanted to find the embrace comforting, oh how she wish it was, but she was antsy now. Febs worked best when she was moving, but she couldn't just jump up either.

She was stuck, so stuck.

"I can handle it." Febs put the emphasis on her ability to handle it, even if she had no idea if she could. It would happen out of necessity and nothing else. Her pure stubbornness would have to get her through. What else could she do but try to keep the hysterics to a minimum and try and make him believe her.  

This was such a mess. She wasn't at all prepared for it. Febs had never felt so small or so young in her entire life, it was maddening and frustrating and she just wanted to not have to deal with it. That wasn't how life worked though, she'd made a choice and now she had to deal with the responsibility of the consequences. And she would do it without ruining his life in the process.