Everyone, I need your opinions.
Nothing but a sad, hurt person hiding behind a façade. His fear of confronting his true emotions and fears has closed him off from others and himself, so he's the master of his own undoing. Others are unfortunate collateral damage.
I hope he gets to redeem himself at one point by facing himself. If not, well... Yet another story of emotional abuse by a vulnerable narcissist, one told too many times.
For reals.
I agree. I think that the character they made is flawlessly written to the point that both my empathy for the hollow, hole-ridden soul of the abuser and the damage they must have endured to become that way and my utter disgust at their actions are triggered simultaneously.
Major trigger for me, but nonetheless astounding writing.