Edward takes a shaky breath, feeling the tears well up in his eyes before he event speaks.

"Maybe I shouldn't--" he stops himself, afraid to look at Stede. "I--"

How is he so fucking afraid of upsetting Stede right now? When he's literally upset from something Stede has done to him? Cowardly. Blackbeard should never be cowardly. He takes another deep breath.

"I destroyed everything." he says, "Everything and everyone who reminded me of you. It's all gone."