"You're different now," Malcolm told him. "Holding more in than usual." And 'usual' was a fair amount, but Malcolm understood the demands of masculinity through the years, even if he didn't see any gain in trying to conform to them himself. His problems meant he couldn't meet the required standard. He had to adapt in other ways. "You... don't have to be okay all the time. Sometimes it helps to... let yourself not be for a little bit."