I don't wanna hurt you.

I'd only let y'down.


He shuts his eyes and shakes his head, the furrow between his brows deepening even as she strokes his hair, her touch reminding him of better times.

Better times before the broken promises, and the broken hearts, and the broken feelings of nearly everyone he was supposed to care about. Before the disappointment, and the resentment, and the blame.


"Don't worry about it."

When he opens his eyes, the intense sharpness in them masks the enduring sadness and regret.

"I can't see that far ahead. I dunno what's gonna happen tomorrow or a week from now or a month from now, but I ain't gonna be thinking about the day you might let me down, or the day you might hurt me, or the day I might do the same to you or what. Even if that day's gonna come for sure, I ain't gonna dwell on it. I won't. I can't.

"And I don't want normal. A guy like me-- I can't have normal. I don't know what normal is, I don't know how to be normal anymore."

He grasps her shoulders.

"I just-- want this. You. Here. Now. This's all I want.

"'Cause this? This-- this's all I can give you."