[He blinks a little in surprise when he hears "mom" - especially not just once, but twice.
...But he won't press her on it. Instead, he simply bows his own head as his lantern floats away, thinking of his own mother.
It's still hard. What would she think of him now? Not very well, probably, but she'd likely have tried to comfort him over it anyway, instead of the scoldings and punishment his father would inevitably heap on him if the man knew he was even still alive.
...Not for the first time, he thinks how much he'd rather face her disappointment than continue coping with her complete absence.]
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...But he won't press her on it. Instead, he simply bows his own head as his lantern floats away, thinking of his own mother.
It's still hard. What would she think of him now? Not very well, probably, but she'd likely have tried to comfort him over it anyway, instead of the scoldings and punishment his father would inevitably heap on him if the man knew he was even still alive.
...Not for the first time, he thinks how much he'd rather face her disappointment than continue coping with her complete absence.]