That's impossible.

[ a point-blank response. he had been listening, certainly; but he's been told such things so many times before that he has the reasoning almost entirely memorized. maybe he hadn't heard all of that from one person before, it'd maybe just been bits and pieces, but he'd heard it all.

you don't have to think of yourself like that. there must be something only you can do. have you considered seeing a therapist? your ideals are pointless. just try loving yourself instead. all sorts of different things that made up pretty words that didn't suit him.

and he would give up on explaining, but he simply couldn't. not entirely. he knew he wouldn't be able to convey the full breadth of how magnificent hope was, but he simply couldn't not speak of it. it was the least he could do. and often times he wonders if that's all he can really do, pitiful and worthless as he is. yes, yes. how very becoming of filth.

he speaks with the patience required for instructing a small child. he will teach you, small monster, how greedy you are. ]

Have you ever been in love, Elaine? If something like you can feel anything so wonderful, that is.

[ yes. that was a good place to begin. ]