This is a side of Plumeria Florie always knew existed, and she made her peace with it long before this. But in those words, she doesn’t hear the friend she knows.
If Plumeria thinks herself a monster, it’s best to face that monster head on.
“I condemn what he did. Why would I fucking not? Every single one he killed for whatever fucking reason he had, they had people like you. Don’t you dare deny that. Don’t you dare act like you're the only one who has the right to be hurt. Don't you dare deny what he did just because you love him.”
Is this going to get her in trouble? Likely. Talking back never ends well, talking back to him taught her that and this doesn’t feel much different. But she doesn’t feel fear this time.
“It’s so easy to excuse that side of him. It’s so easy to ignore the damage when all you see is potential. Those people say it’s okay because he’s a monster? What’s the difference? You’re all saying murder is fine as long as you get what you want. You’re the same as them, pretending everything is neatly separated into black and white.”
Somewhere deep down she knows she’s being cruel to a woman who is wounded, not just hurt, and if she was still acting like the tiny shy security employee she is when she’s not angry, she would never go that far. But this is not okay, and the tiny shy security employee stepped aside to make way for a hidden inner self she never realized existed before.
And this hidden self knows there is always, always hope.
“But I don’t condemn you. Hell, I don’t even condemn him. Not everything you are. But I won’t let you act like he never did anything wrong. I won’t let you condemn the world for their fears and pain as if you’re the only one who has a right to be hurt. You’re going to own up to all that shit like the Plumeria I admire would do, or you don’t ever need to come back to me.”
She takes a step back—when did she get this close?—and looks Plumeria over. Her friend. Her damn strong, amazing, admirable friend. You can do this. I believe in you.
“Now put your head back where it belongs, and take him back.”
