The hand on his knee causes a new frenzy of emotions to play across his face in a myriad of micro expressions. Longing, relief, despair, guilt, anger...all rolled into one tight tangle that knots his eyebrows together over his dull blue eyes. It would feel so good to accept this sympathy. The kind of good that's taboo.

"It was the worst thing I've ever done. And that's... saying more than you know."