[ It was easy, to start. Always start with a joke when it's going to get bad. There's a few seconds worth of a delay before she replies, and there's a marked difference, a huskiness to her voice that wasn't there a moment ago. ]

Yeah, so that was a couple years for me. [ She clears her throat and wets her lips, trying to bring back an even tone. ]

Just like last time, barely a blip here, I think. Red, something happened. I—fuck. [ Not crying is harder than she thought it would be. She thought doing it this way would make it easier and she was completely wrong. ] Listen, before that, I need to say this. I love you for making me feel like me again. You've made this place better than it has a right to be, and if I'd left and not come back, I would've never told you that.