[ Alberto's eyes do widen at that at last, his brow knotting ever so slightly as her words sink in, and it takes him a moment to respond. He has so many questions, he'd normally want to ask about the moon and the rocket and the crash and all the adventurous details, but the real topic at hand is her family, and that's just...
Ten. Years...
He barely remembers ten years ago! That's more than half his whole life. And it feels like it's been half an eternity since he last saw his dad, while it's only been two years, a little less than that. But... the silver lining of that understanding, after a long moment of silence and a long, meaningful look, says— ]
...Well... at least they weren't alone. They, uh— they didn't know they missed you, kinda, right? Cuz they didn't know you. I know that's, uh— [ How the hell does he comfort an adult, she seems upset, he's supposed to comfort people who are upset, but, uh, this is— well— uh— His eyes dart to the side, searching for the right words, which he's certain he's not found... ]
...I mean— You didn't leave them cuz you wanted to leave them, heh, y'know? You'd thought you'd come back sooner. So... it's— kinda not your fault? In a way? You seem sorry about it, so... that's important. Besides, they had the rest of your family, so... sounds like they're okay.
[ ...the hell kind of take is that for a child to come to on this messed up situation, um?
Alberto is so immature in so many ways, very ignorant in many more ways than that, but this is... a surprise? And just as this whole time... a lack of judgment. A suspicious lack of judgment now, though, frankly. Why isn't he more offended by the idea of a parent selfishly leaving her children behind?! He's a child! That should be a mortifying idea! Why is he excusing her?! It's not out of politeness; she's watched him pick his nose. That's of no concern to Alberto. The idea just genuinely... isn't offending him, on some weird level, and that's maybe worrisome and confusing and shocking in itself. ]
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Ten. Years...
He barely remembers ten years ago! That's more than half his whole life. And it feels like it's been half an eternity since he last saw his dad, while it's only been two years, a little less than that. But... the silver lining of that understanding, after a long moment of silence and a long, meaningful look, says— ]
...Well... at least they weren't alone. They, uh— they didn't know they missed you, kinda, right? Cuz they didn't know you. I know that's, uh— [ How the hell does he comfort an adult, she seems upset, he's supposed to comfort people who are upset, but, uh, this is— well— uh— His eyes dart to the side, searching for the right words, which he's certain he's not found... ]
...I mean— You didn't leave them cuz you wanted to leave them, heh, y'know? You'd thought you'd come back sooner. So... it's— kinda not your fault? In a way? You seem sorry about it, so... that's important. Besides, they had the rest of your family, so... sounds like they're okay.
[ ...the hell kind of take is that for a child to come to on this messed up situation, um?
Alberto is so immature in so many ways, very ignorant in many more ways than that, but this is... a surprise? And just as this whole time... a lack of judgment. A suspicious lack of judgment now, though, frankly. Why isn't he more offended by the idea of a parent selfishly leaving her children behind?! He's a child! That should be a mortifying idea! Why is he excusing her?! It's not out of politeness; she's watched him pick his nose. That's of no concern to Alberto. The idea just genuinely... isn't offending him, on some weird level, and that's maybe worrisome and confusing and shocking in itself. ]