The pain inside him was unique, a new and exquisite kind of agony for which he had no measure; his face betrayed nothing but detached calm as he observed the body before him, while inside he was screaming and pleading: Please, somebody make it stop, just make it stop, please, please just make it stop!
"Yes." He told them "That's her." His voice was cold, uncaring and professional. Unseen, his heart shattered into a thousand irreparable pieces.
Jess Parker had meant the world to him, but he never should have loved her. If he hadn't loved her, she'd never have stayed at the ARC to be with him. If he hadn't loved her, she'd never have been in danger. If he hadn't loved her, she'd never have died.
They told him it wasn't his fault, but that was a lie. If he'd just been firmer with her from the start… They told him he couldn't have saved her, but that was a lie. If he'd just been quicker… They told him he was lucky to have escaped with his life, but that was a lie.
The last thing he was was lucky.