"They can, if you let 'em. I want them to. Prove they're Real. It's worth the pain."

It doesn't work though because the people who are real refuse to hurt him, just like those that aren't. Still Josh feels like it's a good system. He hasn't thought of a better one, at least.

"Yeah." Josh exhales a breath that condenses into a cloud in front of his face. "Everyone's nasty to me. Even Chris. I think those might be dreams though. Hallucinations. Sometimes, it's hard to tell."