...That's very true.

[He takes a deep breath and smiles, a little tight, trying very hard to summon some levity (a self-soothing mechanism.)]

The third option is to pursue it but get cagey and evasive anytime someone approaches the subject.

As much as I'd prefer to keep it to myself and have everyone leave me alone, a part of me wonders what it's like to be open about it.

...Do you think it's any easier?