"I'm not telling you not to be upset," I pointed out. At no point had I said that, I was sure. "But you're sure talking like you're blaming me for it." Or maybe that was my own guilty conscience.

Coming here was a mistake, I realized. I'd thought that maybe I could help Poison through this, since I knew, almost firsthand, what he was going through. I had experience. But maybe I just wanted him to forgive me for something I'd had no control over.

I finally reached up to wipe my cheeks. "I shouldn't have come here," I said.