It's my fault, I said softly. I touched his face, the thick brows, wide mouth, and the sprouting stubble along the clean,long jaw. Mine. If I hadn't come...and told you what would happen... I felt a true sorrow for his corruption, and shared a sense of loss for the naïve, gallant lad he had been. And yet...what choice had either of us truly had, being who we were? I had had to tell him, and he had had to act on it.
The speaker reflects on their regret and responsibility for the changes in someone they care about. They touch the person's face and acknowledge the physical aspects that make him unique, feeling a deep sorrow for how he has transformed from a naive young man into someone corrupted by choices and circumstances. The connection they share is deep, amplifying their feelings of loss over the innocence lost in him.
Despite the sorrow, the speaker contemplates the inevitability of their situation. They recognize that both of them acted according to their nature, implying that they were bound by fate to make the choices they did. This acknowledgment presents a complex mixture of regret and resignation, highlighting the tension between personal agency and the paths dictated by their identities.
