'Working on it.' worked for Dietre. He couldn't expect Francis to be able to solve his problems in an instant when several psychologists and medication over years hadn't. He almost felt excited, Francis wanted to help him! No one but Glory had ever said they wanted to help him in a way that he believed they meant it, not even the doctors his parents brought him to see. "Thank you." Those two words didn't come close to what he wanted to say, or how he felt, but nothing else came to mind.
Dietre followed after Francis towards the car, listening intently to what the man said. This felt like their first real conversation. He fell into a thoughtful silence at Francis' admission that he was new to living with another person. It wasn't until they were in the car and Dietre had fastened his seatbelt that the boy spoke again, a little timidly, but with genuine curiosity and honesty.
"...Weren't you lonely?" He clasped his hands together in his lap with a slight frown. "Even though I hated my parents, I couldn't leave even though I was eighteen... I'm afraid to be alone."