Acceptance
"Silly boy, it's okay, I'm here now…" Ben said, as for a good five minutes Leo did nothing but cry his heart out.
Growing up, Leo never had anything akin to a father figure around him and hence having Ben in his life filled that void.
Ben was more than just an NPC for him, he was like a second father and Leo loved him accordingly.
The pain of losing Ben felt akin to the pain of losing a family member for Leo, and it had been extremely difficult for him to cope with the loss.
The pain of living in someone's absence did not come in a single, overwhelming wave that faded over time, it was instead a constant reminder that the memories shared with them could never be recreated.
Leo did feel a deep sadness in the first few days after he learned of Ben's death, but it was not only those first days that weighed heavily on him.