Re: In-person: Sam A/Cris M
[Neil maya run away, but he lives on in Sam's trauma—in her fears, huh? Trauma the gringo couldn't be bothered to acknowledge, let alone assuage. And that means Cris deals with him, in a weird, roundabout way. He don't really think 'bout him much, least not often, not like he did before, but sometimes, when the guy pops up unexpected, he can't help it. He wishes there was something he could do to allay Sam's fears, 'specially when they're 'bout Neil, not him, but he knows he can't. So he just keeps on telling her he isn't gonna go.—But he really ain't thinking 'bout Joey coming out looking like the other guy. For some reason. Maybe he should, huh? But he don't.
Sam's swat gets a laugh, botha 'em, and he dips back—away, like he can escape her hand, but then he's right back there, Joey bapping her feet against bellies.] Too many things, baby. Pilar. Sofia. Turns out I'm real sensitive or somethin'. And a year? Isn't long. You saw me that day on the sidewalk and I'm... what? Fifteen years out? A year is a year, and that's good, but it sure ain't enough to get somebody over somethin' that bad. And you're discountin' everything in-between, some stuff before, ¿sí? [And he shakes his head.] I ain't missin' it! I wanna be there! It's not gross. I'm not gonna think you're gross.