You're not at the top of the list of anyone I'd consider morose.

[the hand is okay. she'll smile, letting him lighten the mood, but she feels sad for him.]

Thank you for telling me. [she tries to think of what to say. she'd like to reassure him, but the question is whether he can ever even really believe the kindness he's shown in return, when he knows how much he had to change himself this much to receive it.]

Changing is hard. And you don't have to try. But if you did choose to try, you would not lose my friendship.