[Oscar is right, and the trick of it is that underneath his denial, Paul knows that. His defensiveness has all the forcefulness of a half-blind boxer weaving on his feet, the last one left who can't see that he's beaten.
Exhaustion rolls through him in a slow wave. He slumps where he sits, rubbing the heel of his hand against the socket of his eye.]
[He could feel that exhaustion. Oscar could feel everything-- and it was all he could do in many ways to keep himself afloat within it. There wasn't much comfort be could offer as a disembodied voice... ]
I understand that better than you think.
[How much of his efforts in the last couple years had been an effort to 'spare himself'? ]
Let him try, Paul. There's nothing to lose anymore.
You need a chance to rest. If you'll allow it, there's something I want to show you to help with that.
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Exhaustion rolls through him in a slow wave. He slumps where he sits, rubbing the heel of his hand against the socket of his eye.]
Maybe I'm the one trying to spare myself.
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I understand that better than you think.
[How much of his efforts in the last couple years had been an effort to 'spare himself'? ]
Let him try, Paul. There's nothing to lose anymore.
You need a chance to rest. If you'll allow it, there's something I want to show you to help with that.