About why I didn't stop him, even though I wanted to.

[the touch is soothing, helps structure her thoughts. it will take time, there will be pauses in her words. pulling this out is like extracting a knife, cutting on both ends.]

I wanted to. Believe me, I did. I wanted to throw myself in the way and tell him no, you can't give up on your past like that, even for someone else. They might not even want this. But if I did that...Lord Jizo told me that his heart was truly set on it. So I would be thwarting his heart's honest wishes and making him follow my own. And to do that...

[another deep breath.]

I...know exactly what it feels like. To be...following someone else's will.

[she's got more to say, it's obvious, but she needs a moment to arrange her words.]