"I'm...sorry." A terrible line. What was Athena supposed to say to that? Alice quickly shook her head before she could reply. "No, I mean, I meant that. It doesn't make any sense, and I don't think it ever will." As she spoke, she looked up into her eyes, her own wet with tears. "I...don't know what to say." She ended abruptly, losing the ability to comfort her in any way that mattered. But just as she did, the image of her uncle flashed in her mind. What would he say?<br/><br/>"You need to stop. You need to stop all of this. My uncle was the only thing I had, and I lost him only three years ago." The sympathy in her voice was fading and being gradually replaced with anger. "Do you think he would want me to curl up and die because he did? To stay and mourn for him for the rest of my life, letting no one else in? People that care about you would never ask for that!" She was standing now, staring her down with an incredible intensity and presence.<br/><br/>"Why can't you toughen up? You have all these fucking muscles, but you're no where closer to doing what you need to do!" She grabbed her by the shirt and pulled her closer.<br/><br/>"Why can't you just cry!"