[she looks away, but he keeps his eyes on her as she talks, letting her get through all that.]
Well... I think people care what happened to her and still know it wasn't your fault. And I don't think you should need to pay for something that you never would have done if you weren't forced into it.
[he knows that guilt isn't that easy to get rid of with logic, though. some things don't go away that easily.]
I know it hurts a lot, though. And that might not change in a really long time. I don't want you to feel pressured to try and force yourself to seem okay if you're not. But for what it's worth, Rosamund... I'm glad you're here to go about your days with us, whatever they look like.
[Her head ducks down. A few of her curls fall forward, obfuscating her face.]
...I'm grateful too. To have friends like you.
[forgive her if there's a quiver to her voice. She only wants to speak honestly. It's hard to do so and keep herself together.]
And I know...if it were anyone else, I'd be saying the same things. There's just nothing that will make these stones in my gut wash away. Maybe they will, someday. When enough time has passed. Or if I get to see her again, and say...
[She bites her lip. Shakes her head, and finally chances looking at him. Her eyes are heavy. One tear slips loose, and she bats it away with her too-delicate fingers.]
But thank you. Really. Because I'm not always okay, and sometimes it feels like if I say so it's just going to ruin everything for everyone else, and all I want — I just really, really want to do right by them all.
It feels different when it's something you've had to experience yourself, instead of only watching someone else do it. I understand.
[in an ideal world, she wouldn't look on herself more unkindly than she does others, but - he can't say he can blame her. he knows what that's like; it's a natural feeling.]
...I think it's really brave to be able to say something like that, actually, instead of pretending everything is fine. I bet other people wouldn't mind you being comfortable saying how you actually feel.
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no subject
Well... I think people care what happened to her and still know it wasn't your fault. And I don't think you should need to pay for something that you never would have done if you weren't forced into it.
[he knows that guilt isn't that easy to get rid of with logic, though. some things don't go away that easily.]
I know it hurts a lot, though. And that might not change in a really long time. I don't want you to feel pressured to try and force yourself to seem okay if you're not. But for what it's worth, Rosamund... I'm glad you're here to go about your days with us, whatever they look like.
no subject
...I'm grateful too. To have friends like you.
[forgive her if there's a quiver to her voice. She only wants to speak honestly. It's hard to do so and keep herself together.]
And I know...if it were anyone else, I'd be saying the same things. There's just nothing that will make these stones in my gut wash away. Maybe they will, someday. When enough time has passed. Or if I get to see her again, and say...
[She bites her lip. Shakes her head, and finally chances looking at him. Her eyes are heavy. One tear slips loose, and she bats it away with her too-delicate fingers.]
But thank you. Really. Because I'm not always okay, and sometimes it feels like if I say so it's just going to ruin everything for everyone else, and all I want — I just really, really want to do right by them all.
no subject
[in an ideal world, she wouldn't look on herself more unkindly than she does others, but - he can't say he can blame her. he knows what that's like; it's a natural feeling.]
...I think it's really brave to be able to say something like that, actually, instead of pretending everything is fine. I bet other people wouldn't mind you being comfortable saying how you actually feel.