[ He knows the answer, and yet he's still holding onto it, because what's life without lying to yourself and pretending you have even an ounce of protection or control?
(He has neither protection nor control. Not for himself, and not from himself. Crichton wasn't trying to kill him. He wasn't even fighting back. All he did was say the wrong thing: that was all it took, and Arthur attacked him. It's already an unclear memory, but the evidence speaks for itself. That was all it took, and Arthur attacked him, and killed him.)
He's also fighting for his life to not start bawling in front of her, and boy is that audible in the choked-off shortness of his voice. ]
no subject
(He has neither protection nor control. Not for himself, and not from himself. Crichton wasn't trying to kill him. He wasn't even fighting back. All he did was say the wrong thing: that was all it took, and Arthur attacked him. It's already an unclear memory, but the evidence speaks for itself. That was all it took, and Arthur attacked him, and killed him.)
He's also fighting for his life to not start bawling in front of her, and boy is that audible in the choked-off shortness of his voice. ]
Just--
Talk.
[ Get this over with. ]