It's not what he meant, but it's all they've got, and Neil knows better than most how the agony can turn into a wallow. Sometimes, it feels good to lay yourself in. Well, not good. Safe. It feels comfortable to be stuck down in the mud of misery, because at least then you're already there when the next misery comes.

Neil runs his fingers through her hair, slow, carding them this way and that and rubbing the tips of his fingers against her scalp like that will help with any of this.