Colt is an important person to Hugo; spending time with him offers a respite from the intensity of his own life. Hugo feels an affection for Colt that stems naturally from his habitual way of forming close bonds: he gravitates toward those he trusts—people in whose presence he feels calm and secure. However, Colt cannot provide the specific kind of vulnerability and intimacy that Hugo typically seeks through his personal rituals. Hugo makes no attempt to change Colt or demand more from him; in fact, he has consciously forbidden himself from revealing that side of his nature to Colt, so as not to jeopardize the connection they have built. Through his connection with Colt, Hugo encounters an attachment he did not choose and cannot fully control. He gradually discovers that people can be significant to him—not because they are useful or have earned that status, but simply in and of themselves. At the same time, Hugo remains an independent individual, with his own responsibilities, authority, and interests.
