Joshua was stunned, and he let go of Hazel.

"Hey--" Hazel burst into tears, they were rolling down her cheeks.

The pain that Joshua had already been feeling became worse. He had felt terrible hearing her cry on the phone, and to see her crying in front of him was killing him.

"Hazel, don't cry, I'm the bad guy. Did I scare you?" Joshua patted her back gently, sweet-talking her.

"Joshua, why are you upsetting me?" She cried even more sadly. "Why don't you care for yourself? It makes me think I ...