Yeah, subject changes, that's good. Ignore the trees for a minute. Ignore the things in them. Ignore the eyes in the branches, because all those branches have eyes even if they never tell you. Let's talk about Tim's life. Let's not talk about Tim's life. Let's talk about anything else.

"Like what?" he fires back, unsure why the words cut like a challenge when, when no, really, please, he would like to think about anything else, anything else, please.

He's breathing way too rapidly. He's pretty sure it shows. God. God, no.