"It's a pretty apt description all the same, isn't it?" he asked, almost smiling.

But then he shook his head. "No," he said with a tone of familiar resignation. "Sometimes you just gotta accept that you're not who they really want. And that's okay."

He studied his bandaged finger with some amusement. "It's okay. And I can't believe you just did that, heh. You're like a mom."