"Tell dat to de nurses at physical t'reapy an' de people o' Manhattan. It's always "what a poor dear!" or "I bet she'll never be able to find someone to love her, now", or my favorite "Man, I bet she's gonna end up like de girl on "Friends" who dated Joey"!"

Alisa saw him tense up, and then stopped stroking his hair or even placing her lips on his forehead for a second time.

"M'sorry, Boss. I didn' mean to make you tense up like dat. I jus' ... been kinda lonel- oh nevermind. Do you want some bourbon? I mean... if you ain' takin' any pain medication dat is. Last t'ing we need is for you to mix de two!"