At a glance
Hurt/comfort places pain or distress alongside an act of caring. The hurt may be physical or emotional; the comfort might be tending a wound, staying through a difficult night, or offering reassurance. This entry covers care between lovers as well as care between friends or family.
In reader conversations — invented example
“He cannot undo what happened. He can bring clean clothes, make the tea, and stay when she asks him to.”
Sources consulted
- Rachel Linn, “Bodies in horrifying hurt/comfort fan fiction: Paying the toll,” Transformative Works and Cultures, no. 25 (2017). Scope, example, and accountability distinction are editorial.