If Sagramore were in a more conducive position for it, Shen Yuan would already be hugging him; instead, he settles for reaching out to take his hand in both of his, looking down at his knuckles rather than his face to save him the embarrassment of being observed. "I imagine that's worse, maybe, than if it had been him to make the choice," he says. "There's no one to be upset at,¹ and even self-pity feels unearned, because you chose it, and you were right to do so." He makes a face. "I hate that—knowing you were right to do something, and still being so sad. Feels like it shouldn't be allowed."

¹ Except, of course, that hypothetically one could be upset at the person who did something unforgivable for doing it in the first place, but neither Sagramore nor Shen Yuan are the type to manage that.