“Vic?” Sam’s soft voice brought him back to the moment. “You OK?”
“Yeah. Yeah. Good.” Scars pulled himself together, turned for the door with renewed determination. “I’m out of here.”
“Wait –” Sam stood up too.
“Look, man. I’m not going to say it isn’t a challenge to change, OK? It is. You’re right about that, I’ll give you that one. But it is possible, if someone really wants it.”
“You think…” Sam hesitated again. “You really think that you can get past everything? All those things that you did before?”
“Yes.” Scars’ voice was clipped. “I do.”
“You know that the past never really stays there, right?” Sam said quietly. “That at some point, it tries to drag you back… it comes calling, because a bill is still due. Karma, Vic. None of us escapes it.”
“So why the hell should I leave my
