Vax needed something to distract him from the stabbing pain of her pity sinking into him, so he reached for a glass of water he'd mainly been ignoring to clear his mouth, cool his tightening throat.

"And she's not here," Vax echoed back after a swallow. He couldn't quite look at her directly, a sheen in his eyes, so he studied the glass in his hand very thoroughly. And had another sip. "Worst. Birthday."