things didn't pan out

Alonso was pretty sure the world had come crashing down--or more aptly, perhaps, that it had been ripped in half and that hordes of monsters were encroaching upon him from every direction. If he wasn't careful (or if he was too careful), then he would find them rearing their ugly heads around whatever corner he wandered upon, under tables, under the bed. He could hardly think clearly for the fear of it all, the confusion, the anger.

He wasn't sure what he had gone to his mother for. Answers? To yell? To cry? When he saw her on the balcony, he wondered how she felt. Was there any regret? Had she imagined the many ways she might go through with her plan, and did she still think about them? A fall from the balcony, that would be one to remember. When she spoke to him, Alonso's jaw tightened, though his fingers merely twitched as he controlled them, stopping himself from digging his nails into his skin.

Don't 'hey, kiddo' me, he wanted to snap, but it was no secret that Alonso was the quieter of the twin princes. He thought to avert his gaze, look around the room instead of at her, but no amount of willpower could bring him to look anywhere else. He didn't move forward to embrace her, as much as his heart ached for the embrace. Hi, the boy uttered, barely a response but one nonetheless.