[There'd been a time, once, where her talking to him like this would have made him reach out, maybe take her hand, try to bring them closer together.

It's tempting even now, a knee-jerk reaction to do something while he sits there, trying to figure out what to say. The last time he'd talked about this kind of thing, he'd been drunk, and that'd made the talking a lot easier, if more regrettable in the morning.]

Someone else going through something similar doesn't mean you can't complain about what's happening to you.

[He leans forward again.]

I, you know Monroe - uh, the guy you met in the park - is going through the same thing, the problems with being around people. He recently pulsed back this regimen, some kinds of drugs, it helps him manage things. I don't know if it'll help you, but I can tell you about it.

[There's a brief hesitation, as he pushes his hand through his hair almost nervously.]

...how much did Alex tell you, about what happened the night I found him?