[Nothing short of exemplary is, of course, not the same as good. She smiles and nods nevertheless. This is the response he knows to give, and she loves him for that just as she loved him once for his impeccable attention to the details of her insanity. Which has not gone away; it's just bled into the background, woven into the tapestry of her life. It is part of everything.]

That makes me very happy, Ben. I - feel as though it's my job to protect you.

I know you . . . don't get protected. But you protected me, once.

Does that make any sense?