The absolute lack of shame that comes with that statement brings a small smile back to his face, and strangely makes him feel a tiny bit better about the whole thing. When you've spent most of your life listening to a voice telling you you're worthless, weak and can't do anything on your own, you grow a desire to prove it wrong when you can. But this way, it makes it seem that maybe he's not such a coward after all.

"Everyone has their own reasons for what they do, I suppose. I haven't been much good to anyone my whole life, not even myself, so I think my desire to fight back comes from having been pushed around and hidden away for far too long. It's silly, I'm sure, because I honestly have no one to prove myself to here. And yet, I can't quite quell the need to come out of hiding and do something to stand up for myself for once."