[ In a way, it's almost comforting to hear about this, to know that the fears that he struggles with are not unique to him. It's no comfort to know that they're justified, or that Louis has had to live his life with the pain of losing his entire family for the sin of loving someone, but every time he thinks about what would happen if his own family knew, it feels so damn lonely. Tim can't live like that. He needs community. In an unexpected, messed up way, he's finding it here, in this unexpected, messed up place. ]

I guess I'm lucky I'm far enough away from them that they don't see it. [ He wouldn't be able to keep it from them. Lying to strangers and bosses and casual acquaintances is one thing, but his mother? He almost slipped just going back home for Christmas for a few days. It just wouldn't be sustainable. ] If they knew I'd spent the last two years sneaking around with a man, it would be the same. They'd be so ashamed. I know they would. I'd have to lie to them, or lose them completely.

[ Maybe not Maggie? Maybe. But he's not sure it's worth the risk just yet. This place provides the freedom for him to be honest about who he is, and if he ever does find a way home (assuming that there is one, and that he's wrong about purgatory) Tim's not sure he'll be able to go back to the way things were. He's trying not to think too hard about what that looks like right now, since Hawk's proven himself completely unreliable once again. ]

I'm sorry you had to make those sacrifices. No matter what we choose, we're sacrificing some part of ourselves. We shouldn't have to.