You were gone. [ It's quieter this time, snapped out almost before Zack's apology forms, but no less heartfelt. Jim's gripping the tablet like he wants to break it, but he's not strong enough. His family had broken in half, narrowed down to one important person, and he'd been right: for Jim, it had felt a thousand times worse to be left behind than it had to die.
Eventually, when the silence beyond Jim's ragged breathing has stretched too long, his brain sluggishly processes what he's hearing. ]
You didn't know? You-
[ Jim rubs his eyes, dismissing the thought as quickly as it'd come. It's not important. Zack being back, that's important. But he still needs something Zack hasn't given yet, and until he does there will still be the nagging fear that this is another waking dream. ] Can you turn on the camera?
no subject
Eventually, when the silence beyond Jim's ragged breathing has stretched too long, his brain sluggishly processes what he's hearing. ]
You didn't know? You-
[ Jim rubs his eyes, dismissing the thought as quickly as it'd come. It's not important. Zack being back, that's important. But he still needs something Zack hasn't given yet, and until he does there will still be the nagging fear that this is another waking dream. ] Can you turn on the camera?