Man I talk about Bolaire's perspective, but for Hal though, you meet this person who loves your work so much that he supports it in anyway he can.
He gives you a stage because you and your troupe have outgrown the one you started on. He helps you realize your ultimate dream of reviving the Dithyramb.
He believes in what you do.
And you're so busy, you have kids, and work, and your writing, but you enjoy this person's company so much that you make time for him. You have coffee every week so that the two of you can just chat about literature.
He comes to your daughter's musical performances, and your plays, and even your brother's funeral because he wants to help you. He cares about your kids and instinctively protects them.
And he's at your side for years. Your brother comes and goes, your ex-partners come and go, your children grow and start to make their own lives, but he's solidly beside you.
There's no place he'd rather be.
Hal has so many friends, but this is the one person he isn't the problem solver for. They just enjoy each other's company.
Their friendship is so easy. They get along so well.
So he looks into his friend's eyes and he's sure he's not lying. That all of it was true. Their friendship was true.
He might not know what to think yet, but he knows that.
