variable created on click in edgeActions.js but want to reference it in external js file

Hi, I created a variable on-click in edgeActions.js but want to reference it in external js file. This is where I am at so far:

In my edgeActions.js I st a variable on compositionReady and then use it when I click on the symbol: questionMarkR1. This works fine.. the problem is that I don't know how to reference the variable in my external js file. This first code is working from the edgeActions.js:

Symbol.bindElementAction(compId, symbolName, "document", "compositionReady", function(sym, e) {

        
         sym.setVariable("questionAsked", false); // sets the initial value

      });

Symbol.bindElementAction(compId, symbolName, "${_questionMarkR1}", "click", function(sym, e) {

         var questionAsked = sym.getVariable("questionAsked");
        
         alert(questionAsked);

         if (questionAsked)// if true
         {
         sym.$("checkButton2").removeClass( "hidden" );
         sym.$("popUp").removeClass( "hidden" );

         }
         else  //if false
         {

         sym.$("pic2a").removeClass( "hidden" );
         sym.$("pic2b").removeClass( "hidden" );
         sym.$("pic2c").removeClass( "hidden" );
         sym.$("pic2d").removeClass( "hidden" );
        
         sym.$("closeBox").removeClass( "hidden" );
         }

      });

This next part doesn't work because I don't know how to reference the variable correctly. This is what I have tried and it doesn't work:

     var questionAsked = sym.getComposition().getStage().getVariable("questionAsked");

     alert(questionAsked);