"It's not that hard," Annie said gently, smiling a little. "You just think about what you want to have happen, and think about what it would take for that to be possible, and believe in those things. Optimism is about little pieces."

She leaned against him a little, trailing her fingertips along his arm affectionately. "Like how right now I believe that Five can do math. And you can be ready."

And she could help him however he needed until it moved beyond math and readiness.