Elijah listened and the priest kept going. He was really being kind, but it was hard to believe. As much as he wanted to soak in the words and keep them in heart, he had thirty years of being told the opposite and feeling it. He slowly shook his head and sniffed a bit wanting to wipe his tears but his hands were still held gently by the other man most kindly.

"He was special. I've only had one other man who seemed to like me, and.. I never knew who was until they basically told me." He frowned as he realized he had been the one to tell them first. Even now he'd revealed himself to this priest who told him in return to ease his tormented heart. "I truly am not much. I am a terribly awkward man who barely can keep my own worries and anxiety in my skin, and I'm as clueless as someone stuck in a corner with a bag on their head." He rubbed his face against his shoulder as he couldn't wipe his tears with his hands.

"I do not know if I will ever meet another, and I certainly don't know if I will know how to talk to them. I'm more eloquent on paper." He certainly didn't have the confidence to try to flirt with someone. It was still shocking he somehow had charmed Father Richards in the first place, that would always remain a mystery to him.