I like that line. It makes me think he has a lot to live for.
Or that the effort put in just wasn't worth it.
Another fiction story! You're really good at this. The story is compelling, clear-visioned, and well told.
I never know. Sometimes I think they might be okay, sometimes not. In another life, I might have tried to be an author.
I'm a reader. I and I think your fiction quite good, especially since you hardly ever do it. Simple, straightforward, nice pacing, good description, genuine, smooth story arcs, tidy, the whole shebang.