Big Salmon Lake Stale air and dead parades

I'm sorry, he said suddenly, knowing that he should be grateful for her company and her caring nature of him. Taikon knew that her seeming hovering came from a place of good, not one that wished to control him. His mind buzzed, continuously, angrily, ringing, harsh, stale, high in his ears. Deep in the abscesses that had long scarred over in the mind, it burned harshly and without resolution.
But he kept on pushing. Thank you for coming with me, he offered slowly. I know I'm not great company, but I still appreciate it.
She still cared. Why did she care? She could have anyone who wasn't him. She was beautiful and strong. She deserved someone who wasn't sick and could love her. Properly. He was such a meagre prize. He wasn't good enough. She was better. They walked on. Buzzing. Frailty.
Fracture.