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[abrightboy]

 This is Bright. Leave a message.

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[abrightboy]

Why would I ask if they didn’t?

[citizendetective]

Tell me why they matter, and I'll tell you.

[abrightboy]

Because you can’t feel what I felt until it’s directly comparable to something you already felt.

[citizendetective]

And you really think you need names to make a direct comparison?

[She rolls her eyes, turning to rest her arms on the railing.]

She told me I couldn't make her need me here. She said people liked her here - and they didn't like me.

[abrightboy]

I don’t need them. I already know how to do this. You’re avoiding names and details because you don’t want to feel those feelings again, but feeling them is the point.

[He moves to stand next to her, but not too close. He leans his back on the railing.]

Why did that hurt you? Because she was supposed to be someone who did like you?

[citizendetective]

Yes.

[Misty keeps her gaze resolutely fixed outwards, at the stars.]

But she apologized, and I think she actually meant it.

[abrightboy]

You're still focused on the wrong thing. You want the moral of this story to be that I should forgive you because you forgave her and you're skating past the actual story.

So how did you feel when she did that to you?

[citizendetective]

... Like I didn't have control over her anymore.

[Misty says, after a moment of hesitation.]

[abrightboy]

Is that the only reason you want to be close to people? To wield power over them?

[citizendetective]

It's the other way around.

[She says, squinting down at her nails.]

I want to wield power over them so I can stay close to them.

[abrightboy]

That's not what people want from their friends.

When she betrayed your trust and you thought you lost that control, how did you feel?

[citizendetective]

Well, she didn't betray my trust, she let me down. And I felt... upset. Hurt.

[A pause.]

Scared.

[abrightboy]

So when you let me down by - in this case - betraying my trust, how do you think I felt?

[citizendetective]

Upset and hurt. Not scared, I assume.

But I already knew that.

[abrightboy]

Knowing it and feeling it aren't the same. So think about how that kind of upset and hurt felt; really feel it again and then consider that you made me feel that way. How does that make you feel?

[citizendetective]

[She's quiet for a good long moment, considering the question.]

Regretful, I think. But I already regretted that you felt that way.

[A pause.]

That I made you feel that way.

[abrightboy]

You regretted that I was upset with you because you thought it might end our friendship. What's different with your regret now?

[citizendetective]

I also regretted that you thought I didn't care about you, and I still do.

[abrightboy]

But what’s different now?

[citizendetective]

I might regret it... more?

[is that the right answer]

[abrightboy]

For what reason?

[citizendetective]

I don't know, Malcolm, probably because you keep bringing it up and so I'm thinking about it more.

[abrightboy]

Feeling the feelings yourself didn’t change anything?

[citizendetective]

[Her brow furrows, and she shakes her head.]

I'm not sure that they're actually the same feelings.

[abrightboy]

Everybody has the same feelings you do.