[ Trying to hide his reaction is, functionally, useless, but it's like him all the same. She doesn't mind. It's a lot to take in, and it's what she expected — what she hoped for, even if the referred tightness in her throat and the burn of tears and gratitude makes it hard to speak.
She moves to sit closer, leaning against his side; her arm slips into the space under his, hand resting on his forearm. Not moving to hold hands, not while he's still holding the book, but it's contact. Weight and presence. ]
It's not El Paso, and... [ she murmurs, chin at his shoulder, heart in her throat, ] ... there's nothing that can replace the people you've lost. There never will be. But... you're not just an imPort, you know? What you guys do here, it's something that will outlast any of us. These are people that will never forget you. This world is better with you in it.
[ Jaime is sentimental. It's why she went for photographs, for kids' drawings, for the little mementos to remind him of the people he's met, the things he's done. But the letters, the after-words... time and again, she's found Jaime to be someone who craves for things without knowing, who wants for things he doesn't pursue. He doesn't dress to stand out, but he wants to be seen, to be noticed. He doesn't do things for praise, for a good word, for a prize — but he still wants it to mean something. More than anything, she thinks, he wants to matter. ]
no subject
She moves to sit closer, leaning against his side; her arm slips into the space under his, hand resting on his forearm. Not moving to hold hands, not while he's still holding the book, but it's contact. Weight and presence. ]
It's not El Paso, and... [ she murmurs, chin at his shoulder, heart in her throat, ] ... there's nothing that can replace the people you've lost. There never will be. But... you're not just an imPort, you know? What you guys do here, it's something that will outlast any of us. These are people that will never forget you. This world is better with you in it.
[ Jaime is sentimental. It's why she went for photographs, for kids' drawings, for the little mementos to remind him of the people he's met, the things he's done. But the letters, the after-words... time and again, she's found Jaime to be someone who craves for things without knowing, who wants for things he doesn't pursue. He doesn't dress to stand out, but he wants to be seen, to be noticed. He doesn't do things for praise, for a good word, for a prize — but he still wants it to mean something. More than anything, she thinks, he wants to matter. ]
This is where you belong.