"Near is a relative kind'a term," Darcy supplies in a jittery stammer. "Not near enough to hurt me. I just- I just-" She finally drags herself away far enough to wipe at her eyes and face. "This is fucking embarrassing. I just..." She lets her arms drop uselessly to her sides with a dull slap against the sides of her thighs. "Panicked."

Small hands ball into fists on either side, the nails biting into her palms feel like deserved punishment, if inadequate. She's quiet for a long time, just focused on getting her breathing under control, while obviously intending to elaborate. "When he changed..." she begins again, quietly and trailing, "It was awful. He wasn't my friend anymore. And I thought I would be cool about it. I thought that I would just watch, and keep him safe." Eyes squeeze shut tightly against a renewed onslaught of fresh tears. "I couldn't even do that."