Louis might be very good at wallowing in his own self-loathing- but he cares about Clem enough to take stock when she talks. To listen, really listen to what she has to say. He knows what she says makes sense, he knows it. That forgiving isn't absolution. And yet-

"...I get it. I know. It's just-"

Difficult. Monumentally so. He's carried this weight for so long, it's settled into being a part of him. He's not sure if he could let it go. If he should. A part of him is worried that he'll backslide. Become that person again. He hates that person. A lot.

But then Clem says that and it gives him reason to pause. She's right- Clem usually is, in his experience- he wouldn't be the person he is today if he hadn't done that. He wouldn't have been sent to Ericson's. He wouldn't have been relatively safe when the world ended, he wouldn't have learned to be a better person. He wouldn't have been in Ericson's when Clem showed up. He wonders if anyone else would have stepped up to protect her from Marlon if he wasn't there. Violet, maybe? Yeah. Probably Violet.

"...You do make a very valid point, Clementine," he manages a smile- tired, frayed at the edges, but there. "I'm pretty sure my life without you in it would suck a whole lot. Actually, I know that for a solid fact thanks to Wonderland Shenanigans. So I guess I can thank Past Me for that much, at least."

Not enough to forgive himself. But enough to see the end results were much, much better.