[Alan considers a moment before speaking softly.]

I was very sickly. It wasn't bad when I was young but it progressed.

[And eventually he did what he needed to, died, became a reaper as punishment; got the Thorns. Being dead didn't spare him from illness like he'd wished. He'd laugh at the irony if he was the kind.]

Have. Still have. The Thorns are rather like a lung illness.