My dear, I am already dead. I cannot be saved. Yet I would have you press us from your mind and live without responsibility for a while. I know you won’t forget, you cannot. But perhaps... attempt to forgive yourself this survivor’s guilt.

[He rubs his back, his other hand grasping his hair and cradling his head. ]

There is no way any of us could have known, for all of our cleverness. Spend your tears against my chest and empty your mind.