[The only time Ben knows sadness, now, is when his friends know sadness; Alex's heart breaks and, because he is not required here and now to look away from that, Ben's heart breaks with him. It touches his eyes, a flash of sun across water, but does not settle.
He shifts his hand without moving his fingertips from Alex's jaw so he can use the pad of his thumb to wipe away the tears first on one side, then the other. His voice is low between them, smooth, private.]
[ Spam ]
He shifts his hand without moving his fingertips from Alex's jaw so he can use the pad of his thumb to wipe away the tears first on one side, then the other. His voice is low between them, smooth, private.]
You are good, Alex.
You are so good.