His visitor left ZEX drained and deeply depressed, to the extent where he could not find the energy to move himself when the nurses told him it was time to go. They eventually took his arm and supported him as they lead him back to his room, and ZEX could barely find the presence of mind to walk in a straight line. He leaned on her heavily, lost in thought over the entire experience.

"Don't worry, he'll be back next week, Max. It'll be alright," she tried to make him feel better, but ZEX wasn't listening.

When in his room, he slumped down in his chair and rested his head against his desk, and didn't move when she brought him his food. He opened his journal, wrote a few words then just let his hand collapse. Every now and then, he made a brief attempt to eat something, a piece of broccoli here and there. Over time even that was too much for him, and he just stopped moving entirely, head buried in his arms.

ZEX wanted to go home.