for a while after he went into hiding he had limited himself to a cigarette every few days , working through the small stockpile he had brought with him to his new home , but , although he had been impressed with his willpower and self control , never breaking down like a true addict and tearing through his supply , oblivious to its finite status , in the end having a smoke every few days was simply masochism , like picking at a wound , never quite letting it heal .