Alex squeezed Roxanne's hand almost convulsively and had to force himself to let hers go before he squashed it. He wasn't sure what he wanted. He didn't want to be by himself, but there were people all around, and his father wouldn't leave this place without him...
And he did want some time alone. With his mother. He looked at Roxanne. "Yeah," he whispered, and the hand holding the soil came to rest on his chest. "Just a little while? Thanks..."
He knew his sister didn't get him, hardly anyone did, really, but at least she respected it, this weird need of his for quiet and alone and introspect.