“I’m not saying he’s not a difficult asshole, Dacen, but he’s different since, well, since you. He smiles more, real smiles. He’s one of my best friends, and though I’ll probably never admit this out loud again in my life because he’d kick my ass, it’s been hard watching him over the years. There’s always, I don’t know, a heavy weight dragging him down. He’s been through some rough shit. But since you showed up here?” He shrugs. “It’s like he can breathe again or something. Anyway, you can keep the photos.”
