Ben sighed. It wasn't unfair of her to turn the question around on him, but he wanted to know what she wanted. He had never thought of himself as marriage material, and he still didn't. He was riddled with insecurities about the sort of life he'd been able to give Melody, although as she was quick to point out it was better than some alternatives. So on the one hand, he didn't want to be married, and he thought that was likely a feeling that would linger long after their argument had ended. But he did care about her, and he wouldn't condemn her to wandering the slums and struggling to feed herself. He didn't want to hurt her, but it seemed as though every path forward would hurt at least a little for both of them.

"I don't want you to be unhappy," he said eventually, which was not an answer to her question.