The memories... those memories... they were too much like his own... he would remember his father always pushing him to be the best, only to ignore him when he didnt... he remembered everyone in the town calling him a freak, avoiding him, how none of the children his age would ever come around him... He had felt truly alone... Then his own issues with the fire... the screams he heard... her voice... scared and in pain... and there was nothing he could do about it, knowing that scream would haunt him the rest of his life...

"Shut up!" he yelled as he pushed away from Alex, falling onto the floor, but continuing to put distance between the two of them. "What makes you believe I havent felt the suffering already? You think I havent seen death?! Death caused by myself! I... I..." but he couldnt continue... he was angry, christ he was angry, but all he could do was sit there and bury his face as tears fell from his eyes.
 
After a while of shaking and clenching and unclenching his fists, he took a shaky breath and said slowly "I dont distance myself because I think I can change everything on my own, I distance myself because im scared... of what I would do if I let someone get close to me.. again... I know I cant change it... and thats what scares me..."

Then he turned to face him with a tear stained face, "THERE! Now that I told you the truth, now that I showed you just how weak I truly am, will you just leave me the FUCK alone?!"