Nothing spectacular happened.

And that, Gary realised, was the point.

The tooth healed properly. Appointments concluded without surprises. Instructions were followed through to the end, not because anyone was watching, but because Gary understood why they mattered.

Emotionally, things settled into something comfortable and sustainable. There were no grand declarations. No dramatic turning points. Just mutual understanding built from consistency rather than intensity.

Gary felt healthier than he had in a long time. Not invincible. Not transformed. Just… functional. Reliable. Present.

It surprised him how satisfying that felt.

There were moments of boredom. Of doubt. Of wondering whether he’d settled for something less exciting than he used to chase. Each time, he remembered the alternative. Chaos. Pain. Constant recovery from his own impulses.

This felt better.

Standing outside one evening, jaw pain-free, mind clear, Gary acknowledged something quietly: he’d earned this outcome. Not through charm or luck, but through restraint and follow-through.

He hadn’t become a different person.

He’d become a slightly better version of the same one.

From here, his path was clear. He could carry this stability forward, accepting a softer, healthier win. Or, if circumstances aligned, he could step into something more traditionally victorious — the full Larry fantasy — without betraying what he’d learned.

Either way, this wasn’t an accident.

It was the result of choosing boring over reckless, consistency over shortcuts, and patience over panic.

Gary smiled to himself.

That was new too.

Carry this stability forward → Page 106

Upgrade into a full Larry win → Page 107