[ Charles tips his head, observing Ben closely for a moment. It's not always easy to tell just by looking what sort of man someone is. But it's reasonable to assume from Ben's meek, apologetic demeanor that he means no harm as a general rule.

If life changed him somewhere along the way, that shouldn't be counted against him when he can't very well remember any of it. ]

I don't think you are.

[ And his tone is reasonably certain, on that matter. His focus turns ahead, dark eyes fixed on the path he remembers from earlier wanderings, taking the lead at a continued, gentle pace. ]

It was never really the life I wanted. I just felt stuck, like I couldn't do or be anything else. But that was a choice I was making. Had to start making different ones.

...people I knew, friends I had, didn't get that chance. So.

[ So he has to change. Has to make those choices for himself, now. For those who never got the chance to be anything more, or change their ways. For those who listened too long, and realized too late, or never at all. ]