There was another long pause. "Adrien", Val then said in his soft voice, "I won't claim I can answer your questions. However, I want to tell you... I've seen you change a lot in these months. Yet, you will change more. Change is unavoidable and relentless... At times, you may find yourself far from where you thought you would be. On some days, you may not recognize yourself at all. On those days, try to remember... try to hold the threads of your fabric. The memories that you cherish the most, the words that most describe you, the flaws that are most yours. All that makes you yourself". He paused. "You have changed a lot, and still, you are the same person who came to my door on that late summer evening - the same bright, sincere, beautiful person".

Tears welled up in Adrien's eyes. "Sometimes I am none of those things", he cried.

Val shook his head. He set one hand on Adrien's shoulder. "You are always yourself", he said, his voice breaking. "Even when you cannot see it".