#jv.docx

i do think that Nikki really did see Bear as like a brother, even though we hear about it second-hand through the lense of Sarah. there is the possibility that she did also harbour a crush on him, and given that it is left up in the air, that is an equally legitimate read, i think. in either case, her direct asking of him (before he makes the wish) can be read as her trying to get him to be honest with her, either so she can reject him (seeing him as a brother), or so she can safely admit she has a crush on him (calling back to shortly before when she said "no-one knows i have a crush on them", paraphrasing).

ultimately i think the biggest indicator (outside of the Sarah filter) for the brother-like friend angle is the Hansel and Gretel monologue, which is explicitly incestuous (at least within the monologue). "I'm more than your wife, I am your sister." i think this also points to both "Nikki" and the real Nikki's consciousnesses mixing (for lack of a better term?) - Nikki's view of a brother versus "Nikki's" romantic love for Bear - although neither the new imitator nor the original person truly mix.

"You're not my wife." from the same monologue, shortly before "I'm more than your wife, I am your sister." this does point towards Bear knowing that "Nikki" is not the real Nikki - yet again. i think he knew the night, if not the moment, he made the wish and saw Nikki/"Nikki" silhouetted under her porch light. "He would relent and choose to be inside me like he had many nights before." this points to his unwillingness to stick to his alleged morals - knows it's wrong to choose the sister/"Nikki", but does so anyway, even though Nikki is not given a choice - she is not given a choice.

there's more i could say about this but i've ran out of steam.