Jonathan Goldstein

But I am surprised by the way he's asking it.

Not with anger, but with sympathy.

For the first time, Clark's trying to see it all from Tessa's perspective.

He's following his mom's example.

And because Tessa didn't want to be alone, she continued to hang out with the girls for several more years before eventually finding a new group of friends.

Tessa turns to Skye.

Skye tells Tessa that there's still one thing she's been wondering about.

Why did Tessa agree to talk with her at all?

It would have been easy to say no.

Everyone else did.

Whereas Skye set out to show her son that she has the courage to stand up for her own needs, Tessa wants to show her daughter that she has the courage to stand up for someone else's.

Go ahead.

Because the room's so small, when they stand, they're already almost touching.

They look at each other for a brief moment.

And then, Skye opens her wings.

After the meeting with Tessa, Clark didn't have much to say.

But at night, back in his room, in that space where he feels free to open up, Clark's eager to talk about Tessa.

Tonight, there's no talk of avenging.

Through his mom's example, Clark's learning that one can be kind without being timid.

That kindness can carry its own strength.