Fred had heard that people still register what they heard in their sleep. He read it in a book about some future dystopia in high school. So, he decided to talk with Mark.

"I"ve done drugs, too, in the past. They seemed like the only thing that helped in life while it was falling to pieces. It felt good, getting high. But I realized, a little too late, that it was just making my life fall apart even faster."

"Drugs aren"t the bad thing. It"s human nature that"s flawed. And our hearts. I see no problem with getting high with friends at a party, or on a date with someone you love, situations like that call for getting high, really."

"But they"re mostly not used like that. People who"re down and out. That"s who the pusherman push drugs on. Sc.u.m, really. But it"s not entirely their bad, either. Supply and demand. And we seek easy solutions and instant gratification, especially when times are hard."

"I know you were sad, and confused. I knew you would be when I left your mother here, in island paradise. But she belonged here, in the sunshine. And I...well, I didn"t. I couldn"t rip her out of here to bring her back to my home. She would"ve, too. I think."

"I wasn"t there for you, but Carlos, your father, was in your life. I"m thankful for him everyday."

"I"m sorry Mark. For not being in your life, until now. It"s selfish to admit, but I feel really awkward right now. Out of guilt. And shame. I was an absent father, in another country, no less. I"m s.h.i.t."

"But I don"t regret anything. I"ve seen a lot of things, unbelievably, and I learned that life has a funny way of moving on, even without your consent, or even you. Sure, you can change course, drastically even. But fate"s a tricky thing. It"s tenacious."

Fred laughed. A little too hard. He heard Mark grumbling and waking up, and he shut up quick.

Little did he know, Mark heard it all- in a hazy way, sure, but he engraved every word in his heart.

The car in motion made Mark drift back to sleep. Fred stayed quiet the rest of the way over, to Mark"s home.