Blacktail Deer Plateau and my tongue stiffens into silence,

Suddenly yet subtly, he is faced with all the fear he has harbored thus far. He wanted to think he'd end up like the medic; he doubted he'd be any good at parenting now, but it'd all work out in the end. There'd be hardships, but he'd overcome them somehow.

But Cupid didn't want to get his hopes up. He's plagued by past mistakes that aren't his own. He can't help but believe he'd end up like his own mother, slowly killing himself and bringing his children down with him.

I'm afraid, he finally admits. What if all the moments I have with them are horrible because of me? He remembers all the bad times with his mother, when he'd cry as he watched her drift further and further from him. 

I don't want that for them. He stifled a cry. I don't want to be like my mom, but I- I'm already going down that road.