[ She's going to have to remind him. She's going to have to keep reminding him, every fucking day if she has to, that he's not a disappointment.

(Somewhere in the back of her mind, she thinks how much she hates them, how family should never make family feel this way. How they should never break someone, and then hand that someone over to others to break them further. She thinks about how much he loves stars and his parrot and games and beautiful things, and she hates them for telling him he's disappointing.) ]

I'm not sad. I'm upset. I was scared about the situation, because I thought something could have happened to you. I thought you could have gotten in an accident, and then the best man in the world would just be gone.

[ She has to reel it in. If she doesn't reel it back a little, she'll start crying all over again. She can cry more later, or hold tight to him and thank god (or Wallace) that he's safe and here.

Another breath. Another steadying, firm breath, and she leans her forehead against his. ]

I love you, and I'm proud of you. That's the rule. You can't think I'm disappointed, because if I was disappointed, I'd be breaking the rules. Do I ever break our rules?