"Don't worry about it. No one who's not from there really knows, anyway," he said. The apology was a mild surprise and more than he'd been expecting.

As for her question, though... that was tougher. "You mean in general? I dunno, it just is. Whether you check out as a coward or standin' up for something you believe in. If you teach someone else what ya know or let it die with you. If you leave your family with nothing or make sure they're taken care of."