It is a change... I used to want to be as good as him. Now I'm just kind of hoping that I don't up as bad. I have trouble with expressions, sometimes, but... I think he didn't even have a concept of empathy, and that scares me.

[He leans against the counter, staring at an indeterminate spot over the sink.]

Even if it's hard, I think empathy is something humans need. Not only an ability to see consequences, but a concern for them. Without it, I'm not sure how much of the human actually remains.