[It must seem odd that Jem, who is more accustomed to loss than most, cannot think of a single thing that might be useful here. The harsh truth of it is that people die. The most relevant truth here is that people leave Eudio behind eventually, and with it they leave all the people that have come to give a shit about them.

It must be harder on Freddie, because she thinks he spends so much time trying to keep people at a distance. Safe and out of the way. Convenient. Jem looks up at him with maybe her eyes looking a little bigger given that she's tired, hair not particularly tidy, and wonders if Freddie spends enough time here, might he grow out of this?

She strokes his side in what, at first, might be seen as idle, distracted movements. ] It's okay to say you liked him, too.

[Her smile is small, lips pressed together and the corners pinched. ] Don't know if you noticed, but it's just us here and I'm not gonna start a viral campaign about how Freddie has a heart after all.