135 Answers Owed II

"What?"

"I didn't come back for you, even when I promised that I would," Gus said, his tone contrite as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. His eyes shifted from mine, choosing instead to stare at a random crack on the sidewalk. "If it weren't for me, you would have escaped to Everhaven on your own. But because you helped me, you got caught. You must have suffered a lot."

I snorted. I supposed that was one way of putting it. 

"Well, I'm alive now," I said simply. There was no way I was going to tell Gus about the highs and lows of my life after I sacrificed myself to save his sorry hide. "At least you seem to be doing well for yourself."

I meant that as an honest statement, but Gus flinched as if I had hit him below the belt.