[Action]

[ He might jump slightly at the fierceness in Max's voice. It was strange to hear him get so angry about something. He'll rub his eyes with a pointer finger and thumb because those words hit home. It makes his eyes burn and his throat close up momentarily because back home he had none of this support, certainly not from the magic community at least. ]

I used to think it-it was my f-fault, you know? That I deserved everything they did to me and that it was right...

[ He sighs shakily and holds Max's hand with his cold one. The motion of Max's thumb running over his hand somewhat calming in that moment. ] But it was horribly wrong. And s-sometimes I don't want to go back home to that.

[ To all that pain and loneliness. ]