Back then, even without the expectation, there's nothing else to look towards. You know? There's just the one path, with all it's stepping stones laid out for you. If you leave that path, well... there's no map for that. It's just... here be dragons.

[He nods along with that. It's certainly an option he considered. And in hindsight probably should have stuck to.]

I wish I had your willpower. Things might have ended better.

It's all right. He lived a long and happy life.
Once I was out of the picture.