Evelyn pulled the blankets higher up her neck.

“Brandon didn’t even stand up,” she said.

I set the water glass on the wooden nightstand.

“He just sat there and stared at the polished travertine floor,” Evelyn said.

“My own boy.”

I adjusted the gold wedding ring on my left hand.

I had no defense for our son failing to protect his mother.

“He was in shock,” I said.