"I'm—" Anthony's voice cracked, "—I'm not ruining his life. I'm not ruining anyone's life." He turned his head to look away from Ben. "And– and I don't have to be a good example to anyone."

"Why? Ye think you're alone in this world?" Ben pushed on, stepping closer. "What ye do has consequences. There's enough misery in this town without you adding to it."

[cw: reference to self harm/suicide]

"I know. I know." Anthony buried his head in his hands. "What do you want me to do about it? Slit my wrists or something?"

That disturbed Ben greatly and he frowned deep. As he stepped closer and now saw the man's position, his frown deepened. "No... Why would you say such a thing?"

"It's obvious that that's what you want me to do," Anthony said, his voice cracking half-way through the sentence.

Ben was aghast. "Don't say such things. That's not at all what I want you to do." He stepped a little closer.

[cw: reference to suicide]

Anthony frowned. What else was that leading up to, then, if not just Ben advising him to jump off a roof or something. "I– just–" he didn't finish his sentence.

"I want you to stop wastin' yer life, not end it." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry if I made ye think otherwise. I'm not like Elijah. He always has the right words."

Anthony didn't respond — he was crying, again.  He tried to stop and calm down so that he could say something, only to be interrupted by his own gross, loud sobbing. Needless to say, he didn't respond to Ben at all.

Oh dear. Ben did not know how to handle a grown man crying. He stood there, helpless, and finally sat down in a pew, not sure what to do or say.