Stephen looked incredibly guilty as Michael went on and he wrapped his arms around his knees, making himself smaller. "Truthfully... I.. I don't want any of that," He replied softly, keeping his eyes down, "Daphne is a lovely girl and I truly want her to be happy but I don't.. I don't think I can be the person she deserves to be with. I don't think I'll ever love her."
Almost every morning he sat with her for breakfast, and he made an effort to sit with her during classes, but Stephen felt nothing but a friendship between them. No matter how much he wanted to have a relationship with her, to make her happy, to be the husband and lover she deserved to have, Stephen found he simply couldn't. He felt like a terrible person admitting it out loud, and it showed on his face.
"If I survive once this is all over, I'll separate from her. I think I'll leave it all behind. I don't know. I don't know what I'll do afterwards, but I know that letting Daphne go will be the most honourable thing," He continued, "I'll make sure I come out as the villain so her social standing isn't affected. I'll lose my family, but I think I lost them several months before we even came here..."
He glanced up at Michael suddenly and stood up, pushing his hair back away from his face. Stephen had never realised how much he'd always opened up to Michael. Even before. He'd gotten carried away, talking, sharing, trying so desperately to get out all those problems building up inside of him. But they weren't those friends any more. He'd almost forgotten. "I'm sorry Michael, I didn't mean to--to go on. I'm sorry-" He straightened up a little, "I was being quite selfish. Is the pad still working well?"