Two years ago, Noble had asked her to let him go. Now she was doing the same.

He pressed the heel of his palm to his right eye, trying to keep tears in. They didn't obey, and were starting to seep out and wet his undereyes. He was crying, fervently but without sobbing, like all the sadness he'd been trying to keep inside was seeping out despite his better judgment.

Two years ago, he'd tried to do the right thing. If he'd been a little more on top of his own life, if he'd known what was going to happen to his family, if he'd ever been braver, maybe he would have actually done the right thing.

Now he was doing something selfish and stupid and he had known the whole time that it wasn't going to help.

"Yeah," Noble said, on an exhale, "I'll leave you be."

He wasn't sure it would work. They kept traipsing in and out of each other's lives, usually on accident, and sometimes it was his fault but sometimes it was hers. But he could leave her alone, to her life. He could actually try to be better. It wasn't like either of them had any other choice.