,. flesh tones

[samira deol]

SAMIRA Really? The Duke of Duke, though yours was probably more apt. At least JJ’s continued to live up to his hype. Probably doesn’t help the ego but he was talented!

[aaron eklund]

Aaron Yeah, call me a little inspired. Actually, speaking of Duke. I guess there's something else I could get off my chest you don't know about.

[samira deol]

SAMIRA What would that be?

[aaron eklund]

Aaron You don’t get to pick your base, but sometimes they take your choices into consideration. I campaigned real hard for NC or even VA. Only reason I behaved really. But alas.

[samira deol]

SAMIRA Oh.

[aaron eklund]

Aaron I tried. Don’t know how much it would’ve changed much of anything but I figured I’d tell you. You were mad at me at the time and I was mad at you for being mad at me, so I never mentioned it.

[samira deol]

SAMIRA I was going to say. It might have prolonged an inevitable, at that time. I was really angry.

[aaron eklund]

Aaron Might’ve made it even harder. Let’s be honest, I don’t think there’s any way I could’ve told you that would’ve made it better. It was the choice itself.

[samira deol]

SAMIRA It was, yes. It was the choice you made without considering me. But, I guess, here we are.

[aaron eklund]

Aaron I know, Sami. I've had a decade to think about it. The longest, quietest, worst days and nights it's all I thought about. I wish a lot of things but what's done is done. First and last time I counted you out. Never again.

[samira deol]

SAMIRA I know. I just...have to reconcile our past with whatever this future continues to look like. That is something else I can't really speed up. And unfortunately unlike med school, I'm not sure of its timeline either.

[aaron eklund]

Aaron I know that too. I'm ready and willing to do whatever. Can I ask you something?

[samira deol]

SAMIRA Of course.

[aaron eklund]

Aaron Just play along with me. What do you think we'd be like now if all that didn't happen?

[samira deol]

SAMIRA All what, specifically?