She can feel it when he screams, like she's trapped in a belfry and the sound is shaking inside of her, rocking her like an earthquake down to her trembling core, her knees almost break, her feet almost come out from under her, and the sound is ringing in her ears, ringing like a gun blast, like a nightmare, turning her inside out.

"Ben?!"

He's covered in blood. He's covered in blood and she would think to herself that she's never seen anything like it but she has, and each memory is striking at her like the blows of an enemy until she can't hardly see straight.

She throws a wake of dirt and rock into the air as she skids to a sudden stop beside him, hands on his shoulders and stronger than she honestly feels. Her throat closes.

"Jesus, Joseph, an' Mary, Ben Hawkins, you look at me!"