The hurt people, hurt people spiel; he remembers it well. It was the only way he could make the abuse they suffered make any sense to her. Not that abuse ever truly makes sense, but the closest he could get to it at any rate.

His features falter a little, and his eyes flicker toward her for a second or two before dropping down to his hands again. She doesn't understand, either, he keeps having to remind himself of that. It's the kind of thing that changes the way people look at a person, and he doesn't think he could handle that. He doesn't want to see the pity in their eyes if the story is out there. Not to mention the rage-- it would be useless, and he doesn't want the burden on anyone else's shoulders, either. Wasn't it bad enough that he had it on his own, how could he ask anyone else to carry that, too?

"I don't think I can, Lise...it's-- it's not that simple."