[A part of him thinks he should step away, give her space, but a much larger part cannot bear the thought. He can tell that it's taking more effort than she would want him to know to keep herself together, that her composure could break just as easily as he fears his own might at this point.]

In all this, you're still the one reassuring me.

[It shouldn't be that way, not when she's hurting so badly, has been for who knows how long— and that's the exact reason he worries as he does, because she will give of herself again and again until there's nothing left as dread and knowing hollow her out from within.]

I'm not sorry you told me. You shouldn't be, either.

[He doubts that will change much. She'll feel guilt over it regardless, still worried about how her lot impacts others and determined she would be better off to suffer it alone.]

I don't know that I can convince you that you don't have to do all of this on your own, but there's nothing I wish for more.