I slowly, slowly remove it. No, I don't love Max anymore. But I don't want to give you this broken, empty me. I want you to have me when I'm full, when I can give something back to you. I don't have much to give right now.
"I gently take away pieces of myself, not out of love for Max, but because I want to appear whole and complete for you."
"Though I lack the strength to give much at this moment, I prefer to offer my true self when I am full and capable of giving something meaningful back."