“That’s not the part I’m talking about.” Though it does give him pause to consider it, and that’s clear. He hadn’t thought about that part at all, as caught up as he was in the rest. “The part I’m talking about is… being that scared of being alone. Thinking the only option is to keep someone so they can’t decide they don’t want to come back.”

Quickly he adds, “I’m not saying it’s okay either, Malcolm, I’m just saying… I get it.”