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“When I got cut up on the job, I went to the hospital for stitches,” I said

“I was there for one of those,” he said

I sh he probably couldn’t see it in the dark “Yeah, you saw et hurt I remember This job doesn’t just mess us up physically, Newman It messes up our heads and our hearts Soot a broken leg, you’d go to an orthopedist, right?”

“I guess so,” he said

“So why don’t we look at a counselor or a therapist as just another specialist like an orthopedist or a dentist?”

“I don’t know I ical”

“Maybe it is logical, and all the rest is just illogical, emotional bullshit”

He laughed then, and it was al after the heavy topic

“I didn’t think I was that funny,” I said

“You aren’t funny You’re honest, and you go straight at a topic like a shark or so”

It was s, but never a shark I think they circlea bite”

He just laughed and then, with the sound of it still in his voice, asked, “How far can we trust Duke with him this emotionally invested?”

“He’s your friend, notyou that?”

“Yeah, but I figured I’d save you the trouble I called you in on this If you had gotten shot in the cell like that”—he shook his head—“it would have been my fault”

“No, Newman, it would not have been your fault It would have been the fault of the person who shot me, and that wouldn’t have been you”