Derek felt some painful sting in his chest. Whenever he was reminded of his loneliness, the pain resurfaced. It was like a pin inside his chest that pricked him each time.
And now he had to face it all. He really had no option. He had to do it unless he didn't want to live too. Well, as a matter of fact he didn't. There was no point in living when you were going to be lonely.
"You have to learn to live with the pain, Derek. I know it's hard, but avoiding it won't be easy either." Mr Mills kept assuring him. "And no one else can manage all those properties except you."
Derek clenched his jaw. His eyes were now red and it stung really bad. He blinked and felt some hot liquid on his cheeks. He was crying. He didn't even realise that.
Then he felt an arm drape around him over his shoulders. Mr Mills pulled him into his chest and held him tight.
"It's okay to cry sometimes. Don't hold it in. Let it all out."