[There's no reply for some time. The seconds drag out to a minute, maybe two. Sound in the background gets more muffled.

Finally, Prior speaks with the tone of someone advising that ripping off a bandaid is for the best.]

I had my feelings hurt - my own fault but it made me feel... pathetic. And small. And that's not how I like to feel around my friends, so I've taken some time to get over it.