The lead character of the story has deep doubts about his affair partner's reliability in keeping their rendezvous. Sure, there's a sliver of possibility—though it's balanced on the brink of not likely. Indeed, upon closer inspection, it verges on being entirely out of the question. Yet, he persisted in this charade, driven by the faintest glimmer of hope. Because where there's even the slightest opportunity, and where addiction grips the soul, we're compelled to keep gambling, against all odds.