[Des swallows hard and ducks his head, composing himself, before looking at Buffy.]

The only thing you need to know, Buffy, is I wanted to tell you. There ain't been a day that's gone by that I haven't tried in every way I could think of besides directly and I couldn't- I just couldn't do it.

[He opens his mouth to say something else and all that comes out is a strangled:] I didn't know.

[He runs his tongue along the inside of his cheek and casts his eyes downwards.] And I guess it doesn't matter anymore.