I cannot stop thinking about Grace labeling himself as a coward, thinking of himself as a coward, and fearing of someone new, brave, and strong finding out about his cowardice.
He knows he needs to tell Simon about what happened, he can't lie to him, he doesn't want to make Simon believe he willingly got on the ship and think of him as some mighty hero. He isn't a hero, not a willing one at least.
He didn't choose to become one, he ran from it. He was pinned down, drugged, and dragged to be a hero for humanity, to leave his home, his children, his earth.
It isn't easy telling Simon, of course it isn't. Nothing is ever easy about telling someone who cowardly you are.
But, Simon doesn't react the way Grace expects. He doesn't shun him, chastise him for his selfishness, or even say he's disappointed. Instead, he's staring blankly, before asking how would Grace be a coward for running?
How is Grace a coward for wanting to live?
From Simon's perspective, Grace isn't a coward, he's human. A human who wanted to live and fought every step of the way too, even if it could've risked many lives. It's what a human does, that's in their nature.
Simon would never view Grace as a coward, just someone who wanted to live, like he did.
