[One might think Alvin would flinch or want to take back his words. Instead, he only thinks one thing and one thing only:
Good.
He just takes Lu Meng's outburst head on, not moving an inch or even surprised. After all, he's not kidding himself to believe that what he says could actually help. Would be great if it did—make things a hell lot easier—but this was more of the reaction he expected. Not pleasant, of course, but he can deal with it. Better himself than someone else more fragile. (But seriously, Lu Meng, ever heard of a metaphor? Mean, come on, you're talking to a guy who knows full well how twisted and mixed up a person is. You can be sure Alvin is going to get onto his case about that later.)
More importantly, although not actually his intent, it made Lu Meng finally speak out about the true problem here. Made him actually release some of that anger and frustration. Good or bad, who knows, but it's at least something that he can work with. Maybe.
There's a long moment of silence as Alvin just stares at Lu Meng, as if taking in everything that was said and processing. Eventually, his shoulders slacken as he shifts his weight from one leg to the other.]
Well I think one thing's that changed for sure is your ability to comprehend what I'm saying. [Nevermind, just going to get to it now.] Seriously, did you even hear anything I just said or did you really get that stuck on my use of metaphors?
[Sighs and raises a hand.]
Call it whatever you want, but nothing you said changes anything. You're right, there is no "cure." There's no "easy fix button" that you can push to make things go away. That's not how life works. Everything you do sticks with you forever and what you went through may take years, maybe your entire lifetime. Even now I have nightmares of things that happened in my past, things I regret and things no kid should have ever experienced. Maybe not as extreme as you, but it's all the same. [He won't get into that, though, and he's stopping himself short from accidentally saying too much. Plus, it's as he said. As bad as his life has been, Lu Meng is still worse and the key focal point. Still, trauma is trauma.
A slow exhale.]
I don't know how else to say this, Lu Meng. You'll never go back to who you were, but you sure as hell won't be turning into whatever you think you will. No matter what happens, you're still you and you said it yourself—a man only has his actions and what happens now is what counts.
no subject
Good.
He just takes Lu Meng's outburst head on, not moving an inch or even surprised. After all, he's not kidding himself to believe that what he says could actually help. Would be great if it did—make things a hell lot easier—but this was more of the reaction he expected. Not pleasant, of course, but he can deal with it. Better himself than someone else more fragile. (But seriously, Lu Meng, ever heard of a metaphor? Mean, come on, you're talking to a guy who knows full well how twisted and mixed up a person is. You can be sure Alvin is going to get onto his case about that later.)
More importantly, although not actually his intent, it made Lu Meng finally speak out about the true problem here. Made him actually release some of that anger and frustration. Good or bad, who knows, but it's at least something that he can work with. Maybe.
There's a long moment of silence as Alvin just stares at Lu Meng, as if taking in everything that was said and processing. Eventually, his shoulders slacken as he shifts his weight from one leg to the other.]
Well I think one thing's that changed for sure is your ability to comprehend what I'm saying. [Nevermind, just going to get to it now.] Seriously, did you even hear anything I just said or did you really get that stuck on my use of metaphors?
[Sighs and raises a hand.]
Call it whatever you want, but nothing you said changes anything. You're right, there is no "cure." There's no "easy fix button" that you can push to make things go away. That's not how life works. Everything you do sticks with you forever and what you went through may take years, maybe your entire lifetime. Even now I have nightmares of things that happened in my past, things I regret and things no kid should have ever experienced. Maybe not as extreme as you, but it's all the same. [He won't get into that, though, and he's stopping himself short from accidentally saying too much. Plus, it's as he said. As bad as his life has been, Lu Meng is still worse and the key focal point. Still, trauma is trauma.
A slow exhale.]
I don't know how else to say this, Lu Meng. You'll never go back to who you were, but you sure as hell won't be turning into whatever you think you will. No matter what happens, you're still you and you said it yourself—a man only has his actions and what happens now is what counts.
So what exactly are you counting?