The author describes his effort at reaching a state of authenticity not only for Richard but himself. He had to follow the depth of his own associations as he worked at empathizing with Richard’s associations that were in the form of repetitions, as if time and development had stopped. In the intimacy of the analytic relationship, he was able to demonstrate to Richard that it was possible to transform inertia and suffering into a narrative and identity with added freedom and a love of life.