He gave her a sad, tight-lipped smile. When she admitted her hurt, he knelt down, crouching at her level despite his height (and what it did to his aging knees). "I know, love," he said softly, his own hurt evident in his voice, too. He took a deep breath, "You know," he approached gently, "You don't have to do this." He gestured to the tree and the pile of neverending lights. Everleigh made it look effortless, but they all knew it wasn't.