[Likewise, Abbacchio waits, assuming Bruno's hand in his will be another brief contact like the touch to his arm before. When it isn't he relaxes - he doesn't actually remember tensing up - just minutely, letting his grip fit more naturally against Bruno's in the same moment his hand is squeezed.
He is not going to say a word about that, lest he shatter whatever it is that's inspired Bruno to take his hand. Instead he focuses on the rest; 'I'll be okay.' This one he believes, with everything unsaid backing it. The resolution is a long way off and any number of things can go wrong, and quickly, but if these intangible somethings - Bruno's will to be okay and his own private, uncertain resolve to try - are where they have to start, then that's that.
They still aren't done. But even Abbacchio can see that this is better than spinning wheels and going nowhere. Maybe for now the hows and whens can be left to be worked out in due time.
Or maybe Abbacchio is drained, and the intangibles can't hold his interest quite like the very tangible feel of a hand on his, and there isn't anything he can pick out to argue over in that admission, anyway.]
I know. [I trust you. He considers then adds,] That's probably enough to satisfy the rest if they start in again.
[This is Abbacchio #trying. But honestly, he lacks all of the demand his voice carried in the earlier part of this conversation - that if is important.]
evening action; 10/27
He is not going to say a word about that, lest he shatter whatever it is that's inspired Bruno to take his hand. Instead he focuses on the rest; 'I'll be okay.' This one he believes, with everything unsaid backing it. The resolution is a long way off and any number of things can go wrong, and quickly, but if these intangible somethings - Bruno's will to be okay and his own private, uncertain resolve to try - are where they have to start, then that's that.
They still aren't done. But even Abbacchio can see that this is better than spinning wheels and going nowhere. Maybe for now the hows and whens can be left to be worked out in due time.
Or maybe Abbacchio is drained, and the intangibles can't hold his interest quite like the very tangible feel of a hand on his, and there isn't anything he can pick out to argue over in that admission, anyway.]
I know. [I trust you. He considers then adds,] That's probably enough to satisfy the rest if they start in again.
[This is Abbacchio #trying. But honestly, he lacks all of the demand his voice carried in the earlier part of this conversation - that if is important.]