Gary felt something dangerous creeping in.

Hope.

The pain was still there. The swelling hadn’t magically vanished. But he was sitting across from a woman who wasn’t judging him, wasn’t mocking him, and wasn’t telling him to leave.

That alone felt like a victory.

He leaned back slightly, finding a position that didn’t make his jaw scream. “So,” he said, “is this the part where you tell me all the terrible things that can happen if I keep ignoring it?”

She smiled knowingly. “Only if you ask.”

Gary considered that. Considered the consequences. Considered the very real possibility that this entire evening could end with him in a dental chair instead of a bed.

Still. It felt better than dying alone with Google.

“I might ask,” he said. “Later.”

She nodded. “Fair enough.”

The pub noise washed around them. For the first time all evening, Gary felt present. Not distracted by pain. Not lost in panic.

This felt like the hinge point. The moment where things either improved… or spectacularly fell apart.

Gary straightened slightly.

Commit to the conversation and sit properly → Page 31

Get nervous and derail things → Page 33