#...and so it begins

                  “You really had to say it that way, huh?” he said in response to the very cryptic way she replied to his question. “--sure doesn’t fill a dude with hope, you know Ruru-cchi?” he sighed, hand shuffling to the mess he called his hair. He tugged hard on a particular loose end, a metaphor for this peculiar situation he had found himself in. 

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"--grab some gummy worms for me?"

"Sure," the clerk nods, barely looking up from his task. Ethan watches as he brings the two bags of candy up to the tilt, and asks, "Is there anything else you need today, sir?"

"Hey, Jason! Is there anything that we should bring back for your broth-- Jason?"

Ethan looks around the store, his brow creasing as he searches for a glimpse of his son amongst the shelves of candy.