The effort it takes not to say anything that might spill it out is frankly unfair, a heated poker burrowing between his ribs and leveraging something unwanted from behind his tongue. A low groan stretches out between gritted teeth, and he’s reached the point where he can’t not speak.

“I ruined him,” he says miserably. “He just wanted to help and I let him and he’s dead because of me. And I’m so afraid you’ll make the same mistake that I don’t even want to chance it.”