It's the hope that gets you. Tottenham Hotspur fans know this better than anyone.
Having already lost James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski ahead of Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United, Spurs fans clung to hope of a surprise Lucas Bergvall return.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou shut that down once and for all.
"Lucas isn't available. Pretty much the same as we were as of last week," Postecoglou told reporters on Tuesday.
He couldn't let us dream for one more day?
Bergvall is dealing with an ankle injury that is expected to end his season, although recent rumblings provided fans with a glimmer of hope. It never felt realistic, but nor did winning the Europa League while finishing 17th in the Premier League.
Spurs fans had their theories. Many observed that the social media team had notably "hidden" Bergvall during their videos from Bilbao, which other fan-filmed videos showed the 19-year-old playmaker appear to move comfortably without a walking boot.
Bergvall's absence creates a major problem for Spurs ahead of their biggest game since reaching the Champions League final six years ago.
Where does the attacking creativity come from? If not Bergvall, there was Maddison. Failing that, they had Kulusevski. All three playmakers will sit on the sidelines on Wednesday night.
Ange Postecoglou must find a creative solution to Lucas Bergvall's absence in Europa League final
It's fitting that Tottenham's most important game captures the gloomy forecast fans have dealt with all season. Only Spurs could lose all three players at a position so vital before their biggest game.
Ange has a decision to make.
Does he play it safe with a midfield trio of Pape Mate Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Yves Bissouma? Or does he dare to dream?
To Dare Is To Do, right? Ange hasn't ruled out moving Pedro Porro into an advanced role, which is the kind of boom-or-bust experiment best reserved for the preseason and not a European final. Does he roll the dice with the inexperience of Wilson Odobert or Mikey Moore?
At this point, an unpredictable cup-final gamble feels better than taking the cautious route against a United team that, for all its faults, knows how to win the big one.
After all, Ange is a risk-taker. He has stayed true to his all-out-attack formula, even when his resilience to maintain a high line with nine players versus Chelsea resulted in derby-day embarrassment.
In what is likely his final game as Spurs boss, Postecoglou faces an all-too-familiar injury crisis and is left with a tough decision. Ange boldly promised a trophy in his second season, but to get there, he may need to roll the dice once more.
Bergvall isn't coming to save Tottenham. Ange must dare to dream one final time.