[He saw this coming: the casual optimism, the faith, the hope. The calm confidence that, no matter the difficulty, they'd all find a way through it. He saw it coming, and it still felt like being stabbed all over again.]
Fred...
[His vision seemed blurry. He rubbed the bridge of his nose again, trying to discreetly clear the tears before she could see them- what she had to hear would be difficult enough without forcing her to tend to his own pain.]
I was dying. And you were already...
[His voice quavers, and he trails off, closing his eyes.]
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED *s o o o o o b*
Fred...
[His vision seemed blurry. He rubbed the bridge of his nose again, trying to discreetly clear the tears before she could see them- what she had to hear would be difficult enough without forcing her to tend to his own pain.]
I was dying. And you were already...
[His voice quavers, and he trails off, closing his eyes.]
I'm sorry.