That sound tears at her heart, so much worse because it’s coming from him and all she wants to do is be there for him, to help him, to make things better. Put the pieces back together. Only she’s part of it, she thinks, part of the cause and maybe she’ll only make everything worse. But she has to try.

She loves him too much. More than she should, and more than she thought possible. He’s the love of her life.

He smoothes her hair back and that simple gesture almost breaks her. And so do his words. Her breath catches in her throat and she stares at him, stunned, and anguished, and disbelieving. How can he... after what Eobard did... how can he still believe that about her? There was nothing good in Eobard, nothing, he was every inch the monster, and he’d taken her, he’d turned her... twisted her. He was a part of her, he was in her blood and he always would be and how can that make her anything except a monster?

She’s a monster, and he still says she’s sunlight. Warmth. That she’s everything good and right in this world. Touches her like she’s... important. More than she is. Less monstrous. She lets out a little sound that’s almost a sob. How can she be so much to him? She can’t breathe. Can’t move.