"It never is." It could always be worse, Tim. It could always be worse. You could be worse off. The nicotine withdrawal might be making him grouchy, as it always does. He hasn't managed to get it to stick for longer than a few days, a week at most, until he inevitably lapses back.

Quitting isn't going well, when an event kicks your stress levels back up to maximum every few weeks or so.

"Well, don't sell yourself short. You do a lot of stupid shit," he's certain to add, with a pointed look that's just barely short of a glower, "but you were part of the group that went Mirrorside too."