( He considers lying outright and simply pretending that this isn’t a problem. This young woman— what is she, in her late teens, early twenties? His problems aren’t Ennaris’ problems to bear. But. If it is a thing that she’s worried about, for herself… )

At the risk of falling back on a trite aphorism: time heals all wounds. So, yes, over time. The years scar, wounds scab, you grow accustomed.

I suspect it might always be frustrating, but it does hurt less.