i put it this on priv a couple weeks ago but i don’t really think the current eo situation makes much sense if you’ve always looked at them as platonic. if you read them as in love then “i was afraid if i heard your voice, i wouldn’t have been able to leave” makes perfect sense.

my personal hc is that s12 eo are in love and barrelling toward something that’s inevitable, and they both know it. that’s what makes elliot, when faced with the decision, feel as if he needs to step away. it’s the only way to save/fix his family (who yes, elliot does loves! but

more than that, feels a duty/obligation toward). the break has to be clean & complete, even if it hurts them both, because like he says, if he so much as hears liv's voice he won’t be able to walk away from her. and he needs to—his sense of honour/principle/etc is too strong,

he needs to at least try to fix his family (eli is only a baby!) bc feeling like he failed them would hurt him probably just as much. he’d never be able to forgive himself.

and what hurts me in my soul is that, even if she doesn’t want to admit it, olivia knows this. she understands. do you know why she understands? because elliot wouldn't be the man she fell in love with if he didn't Think Like That.