And what you'll discover is the fact that he's relaxed under your fingers, and the heavy stones of emotion within his gut and chest are starting to drop away. He focuses on a new cigarette, content, for the moment, with letting you take charge of the matter at hand.

That, too, is how he lets go.

"I'm starting to wonder if things are ever going to work out the way I want them to, whenever I try to take something for myself."

Doors have been closing on him, left and right. Even a guy as resilient as he is can only take so much.