He quails a little. He can't help it, but if the other boy can read a lie then Tim's not good for anything. Can liars always see what lurks behind him? He figured, maybe, that might be the reason he can always see it - he must have done something really bad, and it's gonna follow him forever because of it.

But he can't lie, he can't, or the other boy will tell. He looks at him, drawn up and nervous, then looks at the scattering of leaves over the ground and gnaws on his lip.

"It's better this way," he says softly. "Safer." It's not a lie. Maybe it's enough truth that he'll understand and go away.