White Lies — Maria, the aftermath.
Summary: Truth is a matter of circumstance. She knows that better than most.
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Maria Reynolds does not consider herself to be a weak woman.
Despite the names thrown her way in the streets, and the glares she receives, she does not break. No, she doesn't break; she stands tall, with her head held high. She couldn't care less about the things they're saying about her (not true).
Oh, she's read the pamphlet. The far-too-long essay that brought everything falling down to Earth (but her universe had already crash landed). He published the letters she wrote him, and she despises him all the more for it (not true).
She tries to hate him though. She really does. Isn't he responsible for this? (No.) Hasn't he destroyed everything? (No.) Hasn't he made her life worse from the minute he entered it? (No no no no no no NO—)
She pointedly ignores the fact that she entered his life first. She regrets that moment every day (not true).
She thinks of the rebound on him. She's no fool, she hears the taunts coming his way from his rivals. They're right, of course, He'll never be President with all this dirty laundry aired out. When she sees the broken look on his face, a bitterly smug feeling claws its way into her heart. It is not unpleasant (not true).
She thinks of his family. Of the wife and children he (they, together) condemned to shame and humiliation. Of the sister-in-law burning her way across the seas, through the streets, into his soul.
She watches their little altercation from afar, and wonders just how many women has Alexander Hamilton charmed (broken) on his way to the top. (And she wonders how far he must have fallen). She's certainly not amazed by how he survived the landing (not true).
She's disgusted (true). At who, she's unsure (not true).
She thinks of what's waiting for her at home. Perhaps in another life, she would've been happy to see her husband. Maria believes that perhaps in another life, James wouldn't have been the way he was (a filthy, disgusting, low-life, abusive, son-of-a—). But wishing is weakness, and she is not a weak woman. (Right?)
She's not. Really.
She can't be weak.
(not tr—)
.
.
.
.
.
A year later, she files for a divorce. And she gets a divorce.
She is not weak.