She smiles. Her Steve is so smart. And brave. Best friend material through and through.

“I meant it. When I said you don’t have to forgive him for what he did to you or others. You don’t. Just need to growl less and give him space. So he can grow. And even if he changes and becomes the most perfect, kindest, sweetest lap dog ever, you still don’t owe him forgiveness.”

She’s thought about it some. People she might never forgive. People she already has. It’s a lot. Working through trauma like that is not easy she thinks. But when you have to deal with the Upside-Down, other things come into perspective.

And now, of course, there were aliens to deal with too.