“I can’t do this …” I whisper, emotion breaking in my voice, and I pull myself free. I try to turn away, but he catches my chin with his hand, quickly lifting it to him. I know he sees my pain, and my eyes are almost overflowing with the effort of not crying. I’ve become so useless at finding my mask nowadays; it’s long since deserted me, and I'm defenseless this close to him.  

His lips part, and he frowns, but he lets me go. An expression crosses his face, a sort of ...