Gene sighs. "I don't know. I think I...being alone is safe. It means I don't keep waking up and hearing someone moving around, because then for a moment I might think he's back and--"

The false hope, every time he heard movement, would almost be too much to bear.

Before she could rebut anything, though, he took the chain with his rings off over his head and slid one off. "Take care of this for me," he said, passing it to her.

The pink one. The final ring that would give Gene godlike powers, and the one that he now refused to wear.

"Tony was holding on to it, and I didn't want to leave it, but I shouldn't have it. Not here." I'm not strong enough.