"Yeah. That's it, exactly." It's awkward and uncomfortable, like two separate lives colliding head-on, but he still wants to work something out. He needs to do this. He needs to do it for himself. He took the first step and didn't fumble, and for that he wants to feel proud.

"I'm not going to let him be the boss of me ever again. I promise. But I don't want to shun him forever, either. If people can change, so can he. But if everyone keeps attacking him, he'll never want to."