Oh dear soul. Lottie nodded her head sagely. It made perfect sense to her that he might think it a dream. Then again there were many things that felt like a dream to her. Often she felt she were within one only to fund herself walking out in the gardens or eating dinner with her family. It was such an unnerving feeling but she had grown use to it.

His words broke her heart. She could so easily picture it, him swimming toward the waves. The wind gusting. Alvin shouting his sister's name until his voice was hoarse. She squeezed his hands in support, silently encouraging him to bare his soul if he needed. Words seemed trite and distasteful in such a moment.