The bit where Wendy got on the greyhound bus, did anyone else notice Neil's face? He seems almost unable to express his sadness that shes leaving, does anyone else think that maybe because of the abuse he suffered its made him I dunno...emotionally stunted?
shareI completely agree, I think there were a number of moments that further showed what you're describing. It was the same when his Mom hugged him goodbye, he was blank and staring and seemed unable to summon any kind of emotion, like he just went numb.
I wouldn't know what the actual circumstances are for someone in that position but with this character at least it does seem to be like you say, that he was emotionally stunted.
To me it seemed that because the Coach's attentions were the only experiences he had that made him feel special, he wasn't able then to process his emotions when it came to experiencing appropriate affection such as from his Mom and Wendy, like the two conflicted for him.
I think this is what Wendy is referring to when she says he has a black hole in place of a heart.
As Wendy says to Eric, where most people have a heart, Neil has a bottomless black pit. He doesn't have the ability to process any emotion normally.
Troll the respawn, Jeremy.