[ He squeezes her shoulder again, and then nods as she collects herself. There’s part of him that regrets this, that regrets telling her to harden her heart or create a pretence. He’s teaching her to fold parts of herself away and cover them with a veneer, and he knows, personally, how hard that can be. How it can change a person, how it can make it difficult to let their feelings matter even when they want them to.
But it’s needed, that’s the truth. He has needed to do that all his life, and so does she, if she’s going to come out of this place whole and in tact. It may not be nice, but it’s self-preservation.
So he doesn’t take any of it back. He lifts the doughnut box and brings it over to her, holding it out. ]
You drink the coffee. It’s your reward, but you were kind to share.
[ He gives her arm a little rub, very gently, and then lets her go. ]
no subject
But it’s needed, that’s the truth. He has needed to do that all his life, and so does she, if she’s going to come out of this place whole and in tact. It may not be nice, but it’s self-preservation.
So he doesn’t take any of it back. He lifts the doughnut box and brings it over to her, holding it out. ]
You drink the coffee. It’s your reward, but you were kind to share.
[ He gives her arm a little rub, very gently, and then lets her go. ]
Thank you.