“Hey, kid, you still awake?” Daw asked.
“I am now.”
“Good. I wanted to thank you for…well…helping me see things could be worse.” He chuckled low. “They could be better, but that’s a moot point now, I guess.”
“Meaning you could still be alive,” Russ said.
Daw nodded, said, “Do you mind?” and gestured to the end of the sofa. Russ sat up, wrapping his arms around his knees, so that Daw could have the other end. Then he answered Russ’s question. “Alive would be good. It was no bed of roses, but deep inside I always hoped that someday I’d pull myself together enough to get off the streets. It’s not happening now, but like you said, at least I’ve got friends. Well, I guess they are.”
‘They seem to think so,” Russ replied.
“And I have you.”
“Of course. I’ll always be your friend.” Russ smiled ruefully. “That takes on a whole new meaning, now.”