[It wants you off guard. It wants to hurt you. Hit you where you're always going to ache.]
It never goes away. Or...maybe it does. I don't know. I'll tell you if it ever really does, I guess.
[It's not really an attempt at levity. The words are as even and gentle, rounded off at the corners, as everything else they've said. It's earnest. It's as painfully earnest as everything else they've had to say today.]
[That's just how it is.]
[A small hand rests on her shoulder, and squeezes.]
no subject
[It wants you off guard. It wants to hurt you. Hit you where you're always going to ache.]
It never goes away. Or...maybe it does. I don't know. I'll tell you if it ever really does, I guess.
[It's not really an attempt at levity. The words are as even and gentle, rounded off at the corners, as everything else they've said. It's earnest. It's as painfully earnest as everything else they've had to say today.]
[That's just how it is.]
[A small hand rests on her shoulder, and squeezes.]
It isn't real. Not here.