The Tragedy of Al and Tris

[scribblemyname]

Thoughts on the tragedy of Al and Tris in Divergent. I was requested to write an Al/Tris fic over the holidays, and by chance, it’s one of the ones that fell by the wayside in the realities of too much life to do them all. I forewarned the requester that angst and tragedy was probably on the menu, and they did request nontragic.

But Al and Tris are tragic. Why?

It’s unrequited. It’s the guy that’s so sweet and you care about so much but can never return the feelings. It’s the guy that’s so hurt and just wants to put you both on the same level again. He’s scared. He’s one step away from factionless, and he chooses death instead because he can’t even have your friendship anymore. It’s the wrong choice you never meant to make. It’s horror and pain and fear and grief for all the good that once was and never could be again.

I don’t want to write this fic to be honest. There is no rightness to smooth over the pain. It just hurts, and I’m not a masochist. I’m glad Roth wrote it the way she did. It was real and honest and raw, and so is the book, but I just can’t go there again.

Originally published at Liana Mir. You can comment here or there.