beta
I typically see children and their adult version as different people [in fiction, but ig a lil bit irl too].
Like the child version OBVIOUSLY affects the adult, but (as bad as it sounds and as unfair as it is) there also reaches a point in adulthood where u have to mature despite having a horrendous upbringing and sickening parents
SOOOO in this case, ML can suck it (derogatory, not literally), but his childhood self deserves all the empathy and understanding (ps i say child but i mean but until hes a real adult/frontal lobe developed for the most part)
BUT THIS IS JUST MY OPINION HAHA