Feeling much better, I reintroduced masturbation and the gym into my life -- in both cases, gently.

Unfortunately, to go to the gym, I was forced to leave the house. (I've got a professionally-installed masturbation parlor at home, so I never have to leave to go to the masturbatoreum as most others do.)

The problem with leaving the house is that, on the verge of recovery, I get restressed to the point of near-crippling upper facial tightness by the invariably loathsome behavior of the others in the London street.

To remain calm, I found I had to repeat over and over in my head, "Let them win, let them win, let them wi . . . "