[He considers, then reaches over to muss up Varian's hair a little. Just a little. Not too aggressively, since Amal himself hates that...]

It's a bit complicated for people in our position, isn't it?

[He shakes his head.]

There might not be anything to return to. Time hasn't caught up for you and me but eventually it will. Our worlds only have so many grains of sand left in the hourglass. If any of this is to be believed, we were supposed to be reborn along with everyone else.

So... do we keep trying to find a way back, even though we know how our story ends? Or do we treasure the time we have with the people around us, and try to write something new?

I don't know what the right answer is, or if there's even a right answer. Maybe it doesn't matter at all, because time didn't even seem to pass at home while I was here...

[He drags his hand down his face out of frustration.]

No matter how I look at it, every option feels like I'm abandoning someone.