[Though it never forms a full smile, Rosen's mouth quirks in tired amusement at the ridiculous, and true, comment]
I don't know that thats how I would have put it.
[He lets his long fingers dance a bit on the rim of his mug]
I am an old man, Lance. All joking aside, I am. Now thats not to say I am about to kick the bucket, but what it means is I have lived long enough to lose a lot of things. Now my family, that was my fault and I will not pretend otherwise. But there are other losses. Things we can't control. I'm at an age where my parents are gone and its not unusual to receive letters in the mail "your college roommate has passed away, a heart attack' or 'your best friend from medical school was killed in a car crash.' And then in my line of work death is all too common. So I am going to worry until the day they finally manage to throw me in my grave. Because I've found too often when something is precious to you, its got a time limit.
[Another long sip of tea]
But worrying and caring are two separate things, and I've accepted the former and I am concerned about the latter. Worrying is fussing, protecting, stressing. Caring is that innate ability to show empathy and concern for others. And if I am losing that then I might as well be an automaton. And that is why I asked you to take my patients. Because I do not want to risk hurting anyone else. Fuck pride, or shame, a mental health professional who can't find his ability for empathy [he recognizes the irony given Danielle's ability] is only a liability.
no subject
I don't know that thats how I would have put it.
[He lets his long fingers dance a bit on the rim of his mug]
I am an old man, Lance. All joking aside, I am. Now thats not to say I am about to kick the bucket, but what it means is I have lived long enough to lose a lot of things. Now my family, that was my fault and I will not pretend otherwise. But there are other losses. Things we can't control. I'm at an age where my parents are gone and its not unusual to receive letters in the mail "your college roommate has passed away, a heart attack' or 'your best friend from medical school was killed in a car crash.' And then in my line of work death is all too common. So I am going to worry until the day they finally manage to throw me in my grave. Because I've found too often when something is precious to you, its got a time limit.
[Another long sip of tea]
But worrying and caring are two separate things, and I've accepted the former and I am concerned about the latter. Worrying is fussing, protecting, stressing. Caring is that innate ability to show empathy and concern for others. And if I am losing that then I might as well be an automaton. And that is why I asked you to take my patients. Because I do not want to risk hurting anyone else. Fuck pride, or shame, a mental health professional who can't find his ability for empathy [he recognizes the irony given Danielle's ability] is only a liability.