Funny how he only remembered that his face hurt when Ernie mentioned it was bloodied up. More so when he tried to wiggle his nose. It was a good hurt, not the same as earlier, but it gave him something to focus on and he wasn't sure he wanted to give that up.
"I...I'll have to tell Adelle." His voice cracked. That was not a conversation he was looking forward to, but he certainly didn't want his mother to handle that conversation. Why wasn't she here? If he had to also identify the body... Zacharias slumped back in the chair, closing his eyes for a moment, not sure if this was relief or not.
Mother was probably off taking some weekend holiday and his grandparents, well, it would be better if they didn't show up. "Come on, you have to know that no one else is coming." This was his burden to bear.