[people keep telling her this, over and over, and she believes it on one level. but about half the time, the people who tell her that she can't be expected to hold everything together turn around and desperately need her help in standing up. she doesn't mind - she's never minded, she lives to be helpful, but it is a conflicting message in the end.

but scien hasn't ever been anything but straightforward with her, and so she exhales and just. tries to believe him.]

I got clean, and ate good food, and drank some alcohol that doesn't taste like piss water, and it's - funny, how much that helps. [she says, ruefully.] And my chest doesn't constantly hurt.

[... sheepish feeling.]

I don't think I had very long left. Might have burnt out before I even got the chance to go again.