[ He laughs, too, and if his answer is evasive, it's a very friendly-toned of evasion: ]

I think it is a blessing to be alive.

[ And perhaps it's only tangentially related, but he pauses before he takes another drink of his coffee—all curiosity, no skepticism or expectations for her answer— ]

Can you separate what you are from what you were taught? Put it on and take it off?