['It doesn't feel like death.' That tugs at him in an awfully familiar way- how couldn't it, when he used to live with dead people? He's spent his entire life surrounded by people who couldn't have it, and he can understand that sort of sentiment.

What he wonders now is just what Oren came from, to use those words, but it's his turn to answer.]

I know the feeling, sort of. I mean- I was a little isolated, back home. [Which isn't really an answer. He pauses for a moment, thinking.] ...I like that I can be normal, or- what passes for it here, you know? We're all in the same situation. All of us have-- or will have-- the same experiences. It's never really been like that for me.

[And now that it's his turn to ask, he glances up to Oren again, still with the traces of the wistful little smile that had crept onto his face; his expression sobers quickly, though.]

Why did it feel like death before? [He quickly adds-] -it's okay if that's prying too much, I get that.