[the metaphor gets him to laugh - and it's not that his mood has been brought down by explaining all this, but a little spark of joy does manage to squeeze through. he smiles at her, amused.]

It wouldn't happen at all, probably. If I was found - if I really exist - then... yeah, it'd be nice to be all here, all the time.

But I mean... I'll manage, one way or another. I've decided that - well, as long as someone remembers you, you exist. And you already said you'd remember me, right?

So that's already something to me.