Those words broke the metaphorical dam. Shattered it like a baseball bat to a window; Dirk's well-kept façade crumbled into a million pieces. Everything he had kept deep inside for the past few weeks rose to the surface. His shoulders slumped and his breath hitched as he cried. His face quickly became blotched with red and damp from his tears. He covered his face in his hands and haphazardly sat on the floor, bending his knees into his chest. Dirk was subconsciously making himself as small as he felt.

Now that he started, Dirk couldn't stop. He wasn't sure if he would even if he was able. His heart ached and he was completely overwhelmed by all of the intense emotions he was feeling. He was crying for everything--for loss, for regret, for uncertainty.

"I'm just so sad," he said between sobs. "And scared." He wiped his face with his arm. "I--I miss Daddy so much. What am I supposed to do now?" The fact that his uncle was with him now didn't relieve the void in his heart. "I was so...mad that I couldn't go with him, because last time he promised I could go with him next time. He lied. I called him a liar. What if he died thinking I hate him? I never got to say sorry." As soon as he managed to get his confession out, he was crying even harder.