*CLICK*
"..."
"..."
*There's a long period of silence, only apparent by the background noise.*
"...how..."
*When Nichol finally speaks, his voice sounds rough - like it's kind of hard for him to speak.*
"...I don't understand it. I've found out a lot about what happened after I did my jump with the bomb. Like the world splitting apart, the barrier... all the refugees, and the food situation..."
"Caram said there's kids around - orphans - that need a place to stay. He's right, of course. We're using my apartment for that, and it's probably going to be that way for a while. But..."
*another long pause*
"...he wants it to be my idea because..." *deep sigh, and a bit of a catch in his throat.* "...because somehow, I'm the best role model. And I'm his role model. That... getting checked in on, that statue at the hospital, getting looked up to... that just can't be right..."
"...that shouldn't be right. Not for someone like me."
"..."
*CLICK*