[He takes a long moment to consider that. It has been years since he's even trusted himself to speak to Erik, let alone consider that the man could be convinced of anything but his violent, sometimes-righteously embittered agenda. The idea that he should have told Erik anything, repeated now for emphasis, is...

Well, it should be encouraging. All it leaves him with are even more questions than he already has. Erik is here? Here? They've been on decent enough speaking terms to consider this? That Jean considered this?

He sighs softly.]

I did leave, once. The circumstances were far different, of course. Everything was then, the same way everything feels too big when you're young. [Pointed, perhaps, but it isn't wrong.]

But there is not a day that goes by that I don't regret it. Whatever has happened, I have to believe he... I must have had a very good reason.