Alvin didn't even have the energy to return the hug. He knew he should, but Alvin knew these days didn't make much sense and he certainly couldn't wrap his head around any of this. Even with his front-row seat to his sister's death, Alvin couldn't make heads or tails of the situation.

The persistent haze that had settled over him had him following Lottie blindly. Rufus had made himself scarce which was helpful but even as Lottie tucked him onto the couch next to her, he could feel a fresh wave of tears at the corners of his eyes. "I was there," he whispered. Nobody outside the house knew he'd been there, Alvin knew he wouldn't be able to handle the stares, but this was Lottie and she knew him perhaps better than any of his brothers. "I watched it happen." He choked out, unable to get past that as he dissolved into tears again.