Not alone. The Shadow's response drew Ales aback, as did the declaration that his friends were there to help him. If the others in the room moved in to join the hug, Ales wouldn't. The atmosphere of the room turned on its head.

Everyone gathered around Ira, offering their own words of encouragement while Ales stood back. Ira overcame his Shadow by refusing to distance himself from others. How else was one supposed to get anything done in that case? It didn't make sense.

Hopefully he would find an opportunity to escape this scene without anyone's notice. He didn't want to confront his own Shadow in this state of mind.