I would say the correct answer is <span>c. greatly distressed. These lines describe desperate attempts to live a normal life, to reinvent its meaning, to try to enjoy it once again and recreate some sense within the terrible predicament. This is not optimism - it's a desperate (and vain) attempt to reach for some optimism. It is not depression either - a depressed person doesn't even try.</span>
Explanation: The first two quotes used show Walsh's apprehension about the people turning themselves in, and the last confirms that this apprehension is because of bad past experiences.
