Her voice came behind him, low and strained as she fought against tears.

The grin was a defense against tears, of course, as with most chronic American smilers.

And now she saw he was struggling against tears.

She closed her eyes against silly, sudden tears of relief and joy.

For a moment, her eyes crumpled and she struggled against tears.

I close my eyes against tears, but they come anyway.

The old woman starts to reply, but instead shuts her eyes against tears.

Mark, struggling now against tears, recalled how his brother had looked like he wanted to throw the weapon down, and couldn't.

She fought against tears and barely held her own.

He looked down at the cigarette, his face clenched suddenly against tears.