"Stop worrying," he said softly. "I will be fine."
"I know," I replied. "I just wish you could see how magnificent you are through my eyes."
"You wouldn't fine me magnificent if you knew the truth."
I frowned. "I've known you for close to two years now. What truth are you talking about?"
He looked away.
"I am not a normal person, Jagadhaatreyi," he said quietly.
I laughed. I couldn't help it. He looked up, a hurt expression on his face.
"Of course you're not normal. You'd be horrendously boring if you were," I said, grinning at him. "You are unique, extraordinary – that's what makes you so fascinating."
He smiled and shook his head. "I'm a freak, a sociopath. Sick."
I stopped laughing.
"You're an idiot if you expect me to commiserate with that nonsense. "Sociopath" isn't even a proper term, you moron." A cold fist closed around my heart. "Why are you saying all this?"
He shrugged. "It is true."
"No, it isn't. You know it as well as I do."