"You've been through a great loss, it's natural that you'll need time to heal. Everybody experiences grief differently, go at your own pace. You know, some things are better kept private, but if you can find at least one or two others with whom you're comfortable and you can share your heart, it makes the grief less of a burden."
Stephen realized he was being hypocritical. It was all well and good that he was able to give this sort of self-help advice, but his own ego prevented him from following his own suggestions. His training in the Mystic Arts gave him knowledge and experiences not many others had, and he got a certain amount of gratification from being the one helping others while staying aloof. He reasoned that he hadn't found anybody who he could connect with yet, but he wasn't really looking, either. He was strong and could take care of himself, having done so for a long time, and through very difficult trials.
That didn't mean his words to Darcy were not sincere. He squeezed her hand, reassuringly, but continued to hold it loosely so if she wanted to slip her hand away, she could.
"It's not healthy to keep thinking about the things that might've been. You made a connection with Tony... cherish to those positive memories, but try not to let it hold you back. You revealing your mind with me suggests you're ready to move forward, but the choice is up to you how to go about it."
He smiled a little. "Somebody said that when we leave here, we return to exactly the same time and place that we left, as if we hadn't disappeared at all. I like to think that what we do here is not in vain. It's too powerful. The experiences we have, the lessons we've learned, and the friendships we've made, carry on with us." Stephen then shrugged. "I'm starting to sound new-agey."