Marco's eyes grew wider as Raluca continued on. By the time she finished, both Marco's mind and face froze with a mixture of astonishment and pity.
Finally, he said,
"Well, I never would have thought my current situation would pale against someone else's."
He took a sip from his shot, although he despised the taste he somehow forced himself to do it as a part of a normal social gesture. Then he continued,
"Although I can never feel the pain you must have felt, I want to say I'm sorry to hear about your ordeal, Ral. If there's anything I can do then I shouldn't even tell you to ask."
He looked at Raluca with a somewhat strained reassuring smile and put his hands forward. But it did not last long, he sighed heavily and retreated his hands.
"Sorry, but I can't do this," Marco said looking down, "I'm in trouble, Ral, and I dunno what to do."
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