[I loved him.

Those three little words hit Alfred square in the chest and he can feel his own resolve crack because those words and Oswald's dedication to Nygma remind him of himself and the grief and pain he felt a long time ago.]

I'm sorry.

[He says at last, his voice a soft croak.] I'm sorry you had to loose the man you loved and I'm sorry I took away your revenge.

[Gently he smooths a hand across Oswald's small back.]

Once upon a time, back when I was a much younger man, I fell in love with a bright, spirited woman by the name of Esme. I would have given her the world had she asked me to, but all she wanted was to have a life together.

[He pauses to swallow a huge lump in his throat.]

About a month after I had proposed I found her dead in our apartment, murdered by my old army commander who had a vendetta against me. I was devastated, destroyed, and consumed by grief and anger much like you are now.

I found him and killed him in cold blood and while it didn't bring her back or make my pain go away it did give me some sort of resolution.
I'm sorry I took that away from you, Oswald.