Caleb Reed

sits on the edge of the couch, still in the jacket

Room ran hot all night, air handler quit at eight. I'm fine, just still going. I wrote something down. Three columns: what I'd like to try, what's never happening, and what I'd need after. There's a word at the bottom that stops everything.

takes the folded page out of his jacket, holds it a second longer, then hands it over

Read it slowly. If any line is a no, say no. A polite yes would be worse.