Maybe not a lie, sure, if Edward wants to believe that, but then there leaves the rest; cowardice to be honest with Edward about his feelings, inconsideration for how Edward felt about it all. You'd be fine. Strikes a match to all the gunpowder behind his eyes. It stings him deep in the chest. Edward would rather take a blade twenty more times than feel the pain love has caused him once more.

"I wasn't!" he barks, leaning forward with his fists clenched at his sides. "I was very fucking far from fine."

His eyes feel suddenly wet, voice angry and shaking. How can he possibly explain what he had been through, what he had done? The crew Stede claims concern for now sit stranded on a small island with no food or drink, the sun roasting them to the bone.