I9DT - Desperate Times...

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Well, I don't know how it can get much harder, at least," Ryan said, his voice catching as he worked to keep himself steady.

[Samantha McManus]

"Your mother's wrong. You're not torn up about this because you were the wrong choice. You're torn up because you were the right one."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"No, it's because I screwed this up so badly that I'm the wrong choice."

[Samantha McManus]

"There's not much I can say that would convince you, but I'd pick you again."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Lumis picked me," Ryan said a bit bitterly. "And we know just how great his judgement was."

[Samantha McManus]

"If I'd disagreed with him on this, I could have reversed the decision just like the dozens of others I already have."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Maybe it would've been better if you had," he sighed, the now-familiar grief starting to seep into his head now that he didn't have some sort of work to focus on.

[Samantha McManus]

"Look, I... I know how it feels to be doing this just to feel like you are doing something, and I know what it feels like when you run out of options."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"I haven't run out of options yet," Ryan said quietly.

[Samantha McManus]

"You will. Make sure you're not alone when that happens."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"There are always more options."

[Samantha McManus]

"I'm not saying to give up hope, believe me."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"I'll figure something out. I'll fix this," Ryan said, somehow needing to be right on this one.

[Samantha McManus]

"I hope you will, Ryan." She said simply.

"For all our sakes."