Carl Gallagher passes you the joint, saying "Dude, I've been thinking..." as he exhales, a far-off look in his eye, the South Side Chicago streets quiet behind him, the only sound the distant hum of a train.

He looked out the window, he just came back from military camp, the entire time he thought you, and how you were better than kassadi, and how much he missed you. He wanted to tell you his feelings, but he didn’t know how.