[That's it, really. Not that he thinks he will become that, because he knows he will make sure to take care of himself, to surround himself with people who will help him take care. But to know that the possibility is there and very real —]

[That's why he is so insistent on this. That's why he needs for Polnareff to know, not just in his head but in his heart, that he is like his father. It makes his heart feel cold again, cold and dead and aching, but it's what has to be done.]

[He's very, very sad. Because Polnareff is disappointed in him. And that's when he knows . . .]

[He listens, first. Because he must. Because Polnareff deserves that, and more than that, and everything. But afterwards, he has to bow his head and breathe for a moment, because all his cold heart and cold mind can think of are Bruno's cold fingertips under his warm, warm hands. His failure.]

You told me. Not at first, because there was so much cleaning up to do. So much mess, so many funerals. Right about now . . . but after all of that was over, we talked a lot. You told me about her, your Sherry. What you had to do. And I thought —

I thought what I always think. That if I was a little bit stronger, a little bit better, I could bring her back. Like I thought I brought Bruno back. I thought that if I was just a little more perfect, I could break all the rules for you. But I wasn't good enough.

I'm sorry. I really —

[He covers his mouth with his hand for a moment, just a moment, until his lips stop shaking.]

I'm sorry that I'm not what you hoped I would be. And that I can't fix things. I want to fix everything, even the things I know I shouldn't.