[ As much as Gorgug can appreciate the sentiment, this isn't about him, right now, he thinks. His feelings about his parents isn't what has one of them breaking down in a hospital hallway right now, though they've still been useful in making a connection. Gorgug doesn't mind sharing it with Fabian, and he doesn't mind holding him now, feeling how his body moves--how he breathes--against him.

He's not going to draw attention to his tears. Gorgug is going to keep those tears with him, straight to his grave, whenever that is. ]

You haven't had time. [ Isn't that the problem? Things getting easier with time surely means having something to help heal the wound, when--there's none of that here. There's nothing Fabian's been able to do to address it. ]

I found...I dealt with my problems over years. Your mom's still on her trip. You should... you should talk to her when you see her again. [ That might be difficult--maybe Fabian wanted nothing more than to keep it in and bury it, and never deal with it like a man should, but Gorgug squeezes his arms as he says it, as if to shut off any protests. Reassuring, reminding Fabian: ] It's not stupid--you're her family. You're still her family.

[ And that should count for a lot. If not, then Fabian's mom doesn't deserve him. She's not a good mom, and that's that. ]