Logically, he knew he should go over there and hold her. It was something he had done many times. Shove what he felt aside and make her feel better. Because he would always lose a who had it worse match, and she needed him.

But he felt so hollow and ashamed.

He swiped angrily at his eyes. They were betraying him. He didn't need to show how horrible he felt. He said it already.

He said it and hurt the one person who truly mattered to him. He loved his father very much, but Stephanie was his whole world.

"I apologized," he said as his voice cracked. He closed his eyes and tapped his forehead with his index an middle finger. "Because if the dark mess that's in here hadn't been around. You wouldn't... I wouldn't have hurt you."