[John glances over at the remark, and he sees the cloud of darker gray swarm the orb. He doesn’t smile, but his expression softens to see it.

He decided, right then, that she’s wrong. And he wants to hang on to her, to this. Only here, he knows he doesn’t have to marry someone to keep their friendship.]

I don’t know. Never thought to check. Got drafted a couple years after the incident…

[He trails off, folding his arms under his head as he looks up at the stars, and thinks of Delmar.]

Didn’t go home after I got discharged. Honestly, not sure where I went for a while. Just…all over. Finally thought to look up a friend from my unit who made it out, too…found out he got killed in ‘Nam and didn’t know it. I’m the last member of my unit left, not counting my CO. My dad…

[He trails off, feeling that cold, hard thing from that night that he hates.

The thing that came back up when the cops in Hope came after him.

The thing that didn’t care if a human being lived or died.]