Chapter 52 - Alyson

I lean back in my chair, wiping tears from my eyes. A logical part of my brain tells me I need to stop. But for some reason, I lack all self-control and don’t click away. Someone knocks on my office door, and I look up, prepared to hide behind my monitor if need be.

But it’s just Marissa, and I wave her in.

“Oh my God,” she says and comes around to my desk. “Stop watching those clips of dogs greeting their owners after they come home from the military.”

“But it’s so sweet!”

“You have mascara dripping down your face.”

“I didn’t wear any today.”

She hikes an eyebrow. “Then it’s yesterday’s leftover mascara.”

I grab a tissue from my desk drawer. “That’s likely.” I wipe my eyes and close the viral video. “Did you come in here just to yell at me?”

“I wish I did.” She looks behind her,