[He flinches, lips pursing tightly together as he brings a hand up to clutch at the knot of his tie in a half-remembered gesture to try to keep his composure. It's been a long time since he's had to do anything like that, but here he is.]

...You make it sound like I'm going to walk out the door and be gone forever. Trust me, when the time comes... if I have any choice in the matter, I won't just vanish from your life. I wouldn't want that.

[He. Can't tell if trying to hug her would make things worse, so he just kind of. Pulls his hand from his tie and offers it to her.]

I'll always be your friend.