Hugging is great and hugs are something that Caleb doesn't get a lot of between a recently deceased father and a late-stage alcoholic mother. Plus, you know. Bro culture being what it is. So it is nice, in a visceral sort of way, to hug and be hugged in return.

Caleb never imagined that he would be glad to smell fruit-scented shampoo but here he is, uncomplaining and definitely keeping his arms around her.

He can still see his father's ghost out of the corner of his eye, wheezing and judging, but Caleb turns away.

There's nothing he can do about that, is there?

"Yeah." It's quiet, but he clears his throat after a moment. "Survivor's guilt, I guess?"