"I just...!" He dropped the quinque and held his breath to try and keep from sobbing, his tears falling onto her shirt, "I blamed myself...I thought that...you were getting back at me for what they did to you...forcing you to be human..." He croaked, "I laid there and thought, 'damn, maybe this what I get for not trying hard enough for her. For not protecting her.' Of all the things I did with my life, I stayed with them, even after they picked you apart...! And you hated me for not choosing you over my job...!"