In the book "Cross and Burn" by Val McDermid, a character reflects on the nature of mistakes, acknowledging that while everyone slips up, some errors have greater consequences than others. The emphasis here is on the emotional weight of these mistakes and the potential impact on relationships, particularly the fear of losing someone important due to one’s missteps.

The dialogue captures a moment of vulnerability, where one character appeals to another, pleading not to be lost over the mistakes he's made. This highlights the theme of forgiveness and the struggle to maintain connections in the face of wrongdoing, suggesting that love and understanding can sometimes outweigh past errors.