[ethan knows the person alek was before would have said yes. he knows it, and he has no hope now or sentimentality or--

he doesn't really have anything anymore, it feels like. still, it's alek's answer that makes him smile softly, reading it. his eyes burn, because it shows some kind of growth while ethan is pretty sure he's gone back or forward in the wrong way. it's hard to tell anymore, and it doesn't matter.]

So maybe we are actually all free from him for all time.

If nothing else, I know

I know that is a very good thing. We can try to pave our ways forward separate from what he made of us.