[His 'why' now is very different to what it was back then. And yet, at the core of it all, he can't deny part of the answer hasn't changed.]

That's how old I was when I witnessed the murder of my parents. And after that, it didn't seem like there were a lot of other choices.

[He winces, a little, but it's sympathy for having to lay this on Scott so bluntly rather than any pain in saying it.]

Sorry, when they say flattery gets you everywhere this isn't usually the direction they mean.