... I don't know if you could've stopped her even if you were awake. If she's that good of a friend... Well, I guess maybe you could have stopped her from anything too much. But not from wanting to protect you.

[ another idle, slow swirl of his glass. another, slightly better tolerated sip, the warmth settling somewhere deep enough in him he doesn't much notice it. ]

I know that because my friends are the same way.