“ and that’s just life, isn’t it? ”  forced to grow up too quickly. it’s not a fact he’s keen of reflecting on, because it’s true. he remembers, vividly, all the times he realized how he’d never just get to be a kid. he’s never been like the others. tony, so gifted, so talented, but just not enough at the same time.  “ even if i don’t believe it, it doesn’t cancel out the fact that it isn’t true. you just have to suck it up and deal with it. ”  words of a slight pessimist in any case, and probably not the words she wants to hear out of him. he has struggled. he still does. to what extent, even he doesn’t know, nor does he want to unlock that type of knowledge. leave it where it is, undusted, preferably. stay in that closet.  “ you’d know how that feels, wouldn’t you? ”