Caleb doesn't even have to really think about it, and he shakes his head. "No, actually. It's like everything's a little more, like, defined, and that makes it so much easier to understand." And if he can understand an emotion, it's a lot easier to balance, he's found. He considers, then adds, "I mean... it still doesn't tell me what to do about any of it. I still have to figure that part out on my own."

He gestures between them and continues.

"Like, right now, I can feel you're totally not comfortable with this conversation, and I know that it's because it's unfamiliar territory, not because of anything I'm doing wrong. Before, it wouldn't be like that. I'd just know 'shit, Michael's uncomfortable,' but not the why, and I'd just assume it was something I did, and I'd try to fix it. I mean, I still want to fix it, so you're not uncomfortable, but only so you're not uncomfortable. Not because I feel guilty or, or uncomfortable, too."