It was like catharsis, just talking about it. As with Valerie's arm, she was trying to clean the wound so she could bandage it and let it heal properly. Seven years could feel like a very long time, even at her age. Julianna inclined her head a fraction at the touch of Valerie's hand.
"I do applaud you for trying to change the way you were doing things," she said once the hand had stopped making contact. "It's not just your situation that requires bravery, it's life itself. Being disappointed because things don't work out the way they should have can slow anyone up, but regret at not even trying is a heavier burden."
The dread had subsided, turned into something a little more positive. The Watcher scratched a spot on her upper arm absently. Somewhere in the gloom, a stray dog nosed open a discarded pizza box and found a crust left over from someone's dinner.
"As for Brian..."
Julianna made a diplomatic noise. She wasn't going to excoriate the musician because it wasn't her place, and it sounded as if his sensitivity had triggered Valerie's uncertainty about having a life outside of Slaying, but she'd had a fair amount of experience with relationships with the opposite sex. The older woman smiled ruefully.
"Men's feelings can be surprisingly delicate, much more than most women would think.I don't know what happened because I wasn't there. Sometimes people feed off of each other when they're upset. You say one thing, he says another, and the next thing you know the neighbors are banging on the wall because of all the yelling."
She tried for humor when she said it, even risking a smile, but her expression was kind. "I spoke with him recently, and he specifically said that he 'hopes he's good for you'. I can't speak to your desire to possibly see a girl as well. You should be allowed to explore whatever feelings you have. Sometimes people react badly to the idea of a non-exclusive relationship."
Twenty years ago, she probably wouldn't have given the same answer. She'd only become truly liberal about sex and love once she was past middle age, the reverse of what might have been expected. She might only be able to counsel Valerie to a point regarding the subject since she'd never experimented with other women herself, but Valerie's feelings were clearly more unpredictable.
"It might not be too late. As you said, you respect the decision he made. But if he made it when he was hurt and angry, perhaps he'll change his mind once he calms down."
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"I do applaud you for trying to change the way you were doing things," she said once the hand had stopped making contact. "It's not just your situation that requires bravery, it's life itself. Being disappointed because things don't work out the way they should have can slow anyone up, but regret at not even trying is a heavier burden."
The dread had subsided, turned into something a little more positive. The Watcher scratched a spot on her upper arm absently. Somewhere in the gloom, a stray dog nosed open a discarded pizza box and found a crust left over from someone's dinner.
"As for Brian..."
Julianna made a diplomatic noise. She wasn't going to excoriate the musician because it wasn't her place, and it sounded as if his sensitivity had triggered Valerie's uncertainty about having a life outside of Slaying, but she'd had a fair amount of experience with relationships with the opposite sex. The older woman smiled ruefully.
"Men's feelings can be surprisingly delicate, much more than most women would think.I don't know what happened because I wasn't there. Sometimes people feed off of each other when they're upset. You say one thing, he says another, and the next thing you know the neighbors are banging on the wall because of all the yelling."
She tried for humor when she said it, even risking a smile, but her expression was kind. "I spoke with him recently, and he specifically said that he 'hopes he's good for you'. I can't speak to your desire to possibly see a girl as well. You should be allowed to explore whatever feelings you have. Sometimes people react badly to the idea of a non-exclusive relationship."
Twenty years ago, she probably wouldn't have given the same answer. She'd only become truly liberal about sex and love once she was past middle age, the reverse of what might have been expected. She might only be able to counsel Valerie to a point regarding the subject since she'd never experimented with other women herself, but Valerie's feelings were clearly more unpredictable.
"It might not be too late. As you said, you respect the decision he made. But if he made it when he was hurt and angry, perhaps he'll change his mind once he calms down."