I know. I tried to give him another, a few days ago, and he was having none of it. He wanted the one that still had my warmth.

[For all his best efforts at keeping that matter-of-fact, a few traces of fondness still manage to sneak in anyway.]

...I know. 'Tis not for us to make those decisions of so-called worthiness.

[But. After a long and agonizing moment of silence, he adds: ]

I still wish it hadn't been him.