"I so want to help you, but I don’t know how."
"The effort costs more than you may choose to pay."
(Knowing what she said was hard to disavow:)
"Goddamn! Those are pretty painful words to say."
"I wouldn’t say it if it didn’t feel true.
"I’m so sorry that my curt words have hurt you.
"I’d help you, if only I could find a way."
He smiled at that; knowing what she meant to say.