[It's true. There's no rumors of the Reaper, dispelled or not. No tragedy to befall anyone who gets close. He could start over. Be a different person. No one would know. But does he know how? They always say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. And even though he knows the truth now, and the Reaper is gone... there's so much that can't be fixed.]

I'm not sure if I know how to be anything else. I think... maybe I lost some part of myself that had that capacity ten years ago.
[Still.... he will keep up the handholding. It's discrete and comfortable enough he can not think TOO much about it.]