( it will always, always be hard to look someone in the eye and tell them what they'd lost isn't a justification for their actions. sometimes it's necessary, but at least in this moment... it doesn't feel like it is. he's sufficient cowed, wallowing and disassociating enough to retreat to third person and horrid memories. clarke doesn't gentle in her admonishments, her face is still tight lipped and stern.

but there's an edge to her words. carefully measured, coaching. dipping back into their hypotheticals, but with a thread more conviction. )

I'm not going to say you have to get over that. You never do, that's going to hurt for the rest of your life. But you have to learn how to look past it in the moment.