[ Slow... slow... and then he stops right there, close enough to reach out to if he wanted, but doesn't. ]

...those negative emotions that I keep to myself so nobody sees, I can't pretend they don't exist. I let them out... I cry. I yell. Sometimes, when I really need to, I talk to somebody who doesn't care if I'm in a bad mood, who sees me past the smiles.

[ He keeps his voice to a soft murmur, so that Lucy can listen if she wants, ignore him if she wants, so she won't feel obligated to talk and help fill the silence. ]