It was a kind gesture, he recognized that. She didn't understand that he was talking about something else that was wrong with him, something new, and he wasn't sure he wanted to clarify for her (she didn't need to know about his problems), but it was a kind gesture nonetheless. And he ought to have just said thank you, but no; thank you, I'll be fine. Something polite. Even saying sure, fine, send them to me if you want. That's very helpful, thank you, very kind. He didn't say that. He said, "Spending time with you would do more harm than good."

He met her eyes, horrified. Sweet Merlin.

"It's a new thing," he blurted, because he was no longer concerned with trying not to tell her too much; anything was fine if it helped shift focus away from that. "Something happened recently. I'm trying to fix it. It's not — your notes wouldn't be relevant, probably. I've been — I'm so sorry. I've just been saying things, things I shouldn't be saying out loud — I am so sorry."

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