Ok, there are two issues here: 1) how is he supposed to grief?
Well, anyway he feels like it, tbh. He can mourn her as the love of his life or as a friend in a difficult situation or anything in between. The problem lies in #2:
2)Being consistent
As you said, he is a good friend, but not love while she is alive. after death, she has been everything from idol to be worshipped, queer relationship partner, to normal friend. The truth is, most outsiders don't really care which one it was, just that he present *one* version of the truth.
which leads up "how can he win"? By realizing trust is earned, slowly. If he *is* finally being truthful about Brittany, it will take a long time of consistent, non-exploitative statements to establish a pattern that he is being trustworthy on this issue.
Re: TW mi/suicide
1) how is he supposed to grief?
Well, anyway he feels like it, tbh. He can mourn her as the love of his life or as a friend in a difficult situation or anything in between. The problem lies in #2:
2)Being consistent
As you said, he is a good friend, but not love while she is alive. after death, she has been everything from idol to be worshipped, queer relationship partner, to normal friend. The truth is, most outsiders don't really care which one it was, just that he present *one* version of the truth.
which leads up "how can he win"? By realizing trust is earned, slowly. If he *is* finally being truthful about Brittany, it will take a long time of consistent, non-exploitative statements to establish a pattern that he is being trustworthy on this issue.