He wasn’t sure when he started to sob, but emotion poured out of his trembling body in waves, agonizing, nauseating remorse. It was palpable, the sting of her rejection, pushing herself away from him. He pleaded, groveled, watching the last person in the world he truly loved cower away from him in fear. He didn’t have the strength to explain, though he wanted to make every excuse he could think of. Instead, he let silent tears pour down his face as he collapsed against the crater beside her. He showed her the mangled knuckles on his swelling hand, crusted with blood, blackened with dust. 