[It's what Lance desperately wants to believe and it does soothe him a bit in this moment to hear it. But he supposes things don't really work the way they do in the Saturday morning cartoons he used to watch with his niece and nephew. A kind and true from the heart speech from a friend doesn't just make the sun come out and all of a sudden you look at yourself and the world in another light. He can try to remember and hold on to it, though.

He offers Bolin a weak smile. A genuine try, though it's clear it struggles to reach his whole face.] Thanks, Bolin.

I… really wish I could take that to heart and believe it just like that, but… I guess it's not that easy. I know you're right up here- [He taps his temple] - it's how my family raised me, but…

[He shakes his head, not able to find the right words to describe just how much has altered how he sees the world and himself. He's not who he used to be and maybe he can never be completely the same again, but…] What I know is… I wanna try to be who I was before and who I was trying to become. I dunno if I can, but I guess I can try…

[The idea of trying visibly scares him. There's always more horror and pain around the corner to keep dragging him down. But what else is he gonna do?]