"Thank you." The coffee cup was recieved gratefully, and he cradled it for a moment or so, staring into the inky blackness of the cup. His own exhausted reflection stared back at him, seemingly questioning his current vulnerability.

Listening carefully, he nodded along as Roman spoke. That all seemed right but...no. Something was off. Mildly, he responded, "You know the feeling?"

There was some surprise on his face, but the way Roman focused on the cake so suddenly spoke to a deeper truth. Moving away from his own feelings at the moment would also be welcome.