"Thank ya', Jesse. For explainin' what I respect is a really complex situation. Ya' didn't have to do any o' this and he didn't have to arrange for it, either. Ya' certainly didn't have to pry open ya' personal o' family struggles for me, but I'm truly grateful ya' have. I don't know if I could put any o' this into words as well as ya' have to help me ease into understandin' the challenges Merlin's had in his life. It actually makes me really proud to hear that he loves everyone in his life so much, to the point I know a lot o' it has to be painful for him. The only reason I'm here is I wanted him to know that I love him and I care 'bout him. Sendin' him a DM o' some impersonal message online wasn't enough. Tried to write one many times, in fact. None o' it felt enough. Took a long heart to heart with my granny to get some perspective and wrap my head 'round it. She was the one who asked me if the reason why it felt like I couldn't get the words on the screen right may be because I knew in my heart I needed to say them in person. Just had to come and give it a go. Only, now hearin' how tough he's had things, I'm havin' regrets 'bout contributin' to it. Sounds like ya' whole family just needs a break to catch ya' breath and I'm really not helpin' on that. So, can I just ask ya' out right, do ya' think I should head back to Ireland and wait for him to reach out to me when - if - he's ready to? Give him that breathin' space? Ya' know ya' wee brother, ya'd know what it is he needs the most right now. To know I love him and care enough to come here to see him, o' head back and leave the ball in his court?" Cillian asked, gesturing with the cookie that he had so far just been using as something to do with his hand rather than eating it.

He laughed too at that and shrugged. "That, I can't deny. Extra is probably exactly what my family is about family. A wee bit o' an Irish thing, that. Maybe that's a wee bit o' his genes comin' out in him. He was bullied? What on earth could they possibly want to bully him for? For all I've heard, he sounds like a sweet, kind, smart, and talented kid. But I know kids can be arseholes for no rhyme nor reason sometimes. Did he have it tough as a child with ADHD? I know it can manifest in some really difficult ways for some kids and they need medication to cope."