What friends? [No, he's genuinely asking. What friends does he have? Here, he made none. In Rhodes Island, he made none.
Shalem places his hands on his knees so he can look Atem in the eye better.]
I wonder if you ever thought if there was a reason why I held myself away from everyone else, including you. Why I spurned all outings, even before you forced me to make a change. I kept it all bottled up inside and made sure barely anyone saw me, and it kept spilling forth in battle anyway. But I always thought it was better, because no one knows what I could have done. I could have killed anyone in one of my... episodes.
[Because that's what happens when you hold everything inside. When you're a kettle that hasn't been removed from the fire.]
Bit egotistic, isn't it, to think that you could have fixed me? Definitely egotistic to think you can talk me out of my happiness now.
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But there are other ways to live! I would have done anything to help you then if you had told me from the start what your life was like...!
[But instead...]
... I am so sorry... That I did this to you, Shalem...
And I know nothing could cure your disease...
But with your friends, with people who love you, they would have helped you face the darkness! So you wouldn't be so sad and alone!
We could have walked in the light together!
This is insanity..! You are more than your past, Shalem! More than a bloodthirsty murderer!
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Shalem places his hands on his knees so he can look Atem in the eye better.]
I wonder if you ever thought if there was a reason why I held myself away from everyone else, including you. Why I spurned all outings, even before you forced me to make a change. I kept it all bottled up inside and made sure barely anyone saw me, and it kept spilling forth in battle anyway. But I always thought it was better, because no one knows what I could have done. I could have killed anyone in one of my... episodes.
[Because that's what happens when you hold everything inside. When you're a kettle that hasn't been removed from the fire.]
Bit egotistic, isn't it, to think that you could have fixed me? Definitely egotistic to think you can talk me out of my happiness now.