Jack's eyes closed again, and he couldn't honestly recall if he'd fallen asleep or not. His body was trying to cope and so was shutting down. Shutting down while it attempted to repair himself in ways that never really could.

And then he heard the door, an event that stirred him, his eyes open again, and he watched as Reinette prepared the drink.

"When I die," he said to her, "it'll be like before. It might take longer, but my body will heal itself and when I wake up I'll be myself again." He might still hurt, yes, might still be tired, but there would be no pain in his bones, and no feeling of being a shell of who he should be. It would feel better.

"You might want to go while it happens."