[ he could ask her further about what's twisting inside of her, leaving that empty silence open to give her the option to elaborate if that's what she wants to do. it's in that silence that he thinks about her question, something he hasn't considered to ask himself, not when he knows that the choice isn't his.

all the things he'd rather forget, all the things he wants to cling to remembering — how can he map it out in his head when he knows he's just going to be in for disappointment? ]

It doesn't really matter, does it? The things we'd choose. Even if we had an answer, it's likely that whatever it is that we'd want to forget, is exactly what it is that we're supposed to remember.

[ though she turns away, he doesn't stray his own eyes away. ]

Everything that hurts, you keep carrying that with you. Because the hurt, the frustration, the tears — that's what's gonna get you through all of this in the end. That's what drives you.