Gary discovered that committing properly was less dramatic than he’d imagined.

There was no swelling music, no triumphant montage, no sudden sense of moral superiority. Instead, there was routine. Alarms set on his phone for medication. Appointments written down instead of vaguely remembered. Meals planned around what wouldn’t aggravate his jaw rather than what he fancied in the moment.

It felt dull.

That was the unsettling part.

Gary had always associated progress with effort and suffering — something sharp and exhausting that proved he was changing. This was neither. It was quiet, repetitive, and strangely resistant to shortcuts.

He found himself becoming aware of how often he’d previously negotiated with himself. I’ll do it later. One won’t hurt. This is basically the same thing. Those thoughts still appeared, but now he noticed them rather than automatically agreeing.

Emotionally, things stayed cautious. Messages were exchanged without pressure. Plans were made with flexibility rather than expectation. Gary resisted the urge to seek reassurance every time doubt crept in, reminding himself that consistency mattered more than intensity.

That restraint didn’t feel heroic. It felt uncomfortable.

But the tooth continued to improve, steadily and predictably, which was new territory for Gary. Improvement without drama made him nervous, like he was waiting for the catch.

At the same time, he felt something unfamiliar settle in — not confidence, exactly, but trust. Not in outcomes. In process.

Gary stood in his kitchen one evening, antibiotic taken on time, sink empty, phone face down on the counter. He could keep doing this. Stick to the plan without cutting corners. Or he could push for emotional reassurance, needing proof that this effort was “worth it.” Or he could quietly decide he’d done enough and begin coasting again.

The choices were less exciting now.

They were also more revealing.

Stick to the plan without shortcuts → Page 82

Push for emotional reassurance too soon → Page 83

Decide this is enough effort and coast → Page 86