[She says nothing to that, at least not immediately. Her son's decisions have always been his own: she simply does what she can to make it a little bit easier for him, in whatever way she can.]

Thank you for your concern. Still, I think that we have all walked well past the point where contemplating on how he did not have to be what he is now is moot and academic. [Taking a drag from her pipe.] Better to move from where one is now, in my opinion, and adjust accordingly. To ease the burden, so to speak. To remind him that this is not something that he has to do alone.