I appreciate you talking to me about it anyway, [ Matt says. It's the kind of sentiment that could be rote, but it's clear from his thoughts that he means it. ] I need all the help I can get. Plus, I tend to think there's a reason we're all here, that we all need each other on some level. So any amount of time or effort you give ... I'm grateful for it.

[ He doesn't entirely mean to say that last part. Matt's had some success keeping certain thoughts and associations under lock and key--things relating to Sebastian's collar, for instance--but that involves a specific technique, sort of like meditating. Things that are merely inconvenient to share can still filter through unbidden. ]