[The words unexpectedly feel like a vise gripping his heart, a sudden clenching that makes his breath escape in something that's almost a sob. When he speaks again, there's a roughness to the words that gives away the intensity of feeling behind them.]

I'm so sorry I wasn't there when that thing grabbed you. I'm sorry I wasn't great at staying in touch with you after you left for Jersey, I just...I thought you wanted space and for me to bug you less, and I just never...

[He swallows down the rest, wills his voice even. If he's crying, neither of them have to admit it.]

I'm not gonna make the same mistake again. I'm not letting anything else take you away from me. No matter what.