He said to the kid,

"tell them nothing.

Never let them know what you feel.

Never tell them your business.

Don't tell them anything about your past.

And never say, 'I love you' first.

Got it? That kind of crap is for fools

and pussies."

The kid nodded,

and kept the tradition going

of staring at cold coffee cups,

passing out in the bathroom, and

dying in front of the TV.