A/N: I thought I’d share some changes to what Hannah could say in her tape for Libby. :) Fair warning: I apologise in advance that this might be a bit triggering and if Hannah is out of character :( and constructive feedback is welcome. :)
Summary: Hannah Baker left behind 13 audio recordings on each side of the seven tapes, each of them describing how one’s actions destroyed her life and culminated in her tragic passing ... but what if there was a tape that nobody knew of until now? (Libby X Hannah, friendship, angst - 13RW: Season 1, Episode 12).
Trigger Warnings: Emotional Projection & Mentions of Execution. Please be careful and please read at your own discretion.
“Some girls know all the lyrics to each other's songs. They find harmonies in their laughter, their linked elbows echo in tune,”
“But what if I can't hum on key? What if my melodies are the ones that nobody hears?”
“Someone I know has wondered these things too. And I’ll be very surprised if she ever finds this tape, considering where she is in the world right now,”
“With that in mind, boys and girls - let me introduce you to someone whom you'll never meet. Step up, Libby Mason. It's your turn on the scaffold,"
"If you're all wondering who she is? Well, here's a little context. She’s a year older than I am and she has a little something called Autism. It’s a a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. Sounds interesting, right?”
“Would it interest you to know that she’s the Immune Girl everyone keeps talking about? The Cure for Mankind? The Saviour of Humanity? I think it would. But in any case, she's the condemned traitor of this story,"
"Libby, it... it broke my heart to make this tape for you. And I imagine that if you do find this, you’d be wondering what you did to become one of the reasons why. Well, here it is. You broke my soul,”
“We were supposed to support one another, right? Even when we’ve been separated by unbelievable circumstances? That’s what I thought, at least...”
“I still remember when I saw your poem back in January. You already know what happened to me beforehand, but when I read what you wrote... About how the bullies made you feel like an ugly duckling in a sea of lovely white ducks and that you wanted to ask them why they were doing what they were doing? It made me realise that I wasn’t alone,”
“And I’m glad that I reached out to you, not just because I thought that we could support each other. You see, you’re the girl I wish I could be. You’re kind, you're strong, you’re intelligent and...! Even when circumstances get too much for you, you just--! You never give up,"
“You have a way with words when it comes to writing, which is why I looked at your poem as a source of inspiration for my own. And your knowledge of 16th century England always fascinates me. I don’t think I would have learned about Queen Elizabeth I or Anne Boleyn if it wasn’t for you, so thank you for the history lessons. I enjoyed them,“
“But most of all, I enjoyed all the conversations we’ve had. You were there in most of the good memories I have. But...! But, I can’t see you in my bad memories. Why? Because you weren’t there to help me. You left me behind to face them alone when you got caught up in that Outbreak. I can’t blame you one hundred percent, and... I know you tried fighting as best as you could but—! It would have made a huge difference if you had fought just a little harder to escape from that pandemic,“
“But then, you came back after eight months. Now, I’ll be honest. I didn’t want to believe it. And—! And I didn’t want to believe the rumours that there was an immune girl who was trapped in the quarantine because I told myself you were dead. Simple as that,”
“S-So...! So when you told me that those rumours were true? A small part of me felt jealous. I was jealous that I couldn’t be immune to what was happening to me. And I’m sorry to tell you this but I was glad you felt scared of what people were saying about you, because that’s how I feel. All the time,”
“That’s why I’m glad you’re properly starting to understand that. And hey! At least, you’ll get to be worth something when I’m worth nothing, right?”
"I've only scratched the surface on the reasons why you're here. For those of you listening, this is gonna be the greatest plot twist of your life. Besides the fact that I'm dead, of course. And Libby? You know exactly what I'm about to say,"
"You see, you are one fucked up bitch. Your sensitive and kind personality is just a mask. Because underneath it? There's a manipulative, deceitful and selfish slut who uses her talents to get whatever she wants,"
"Boys fall over their feet to have you. The same boys that girls like me never get noticed by,"
"You want whatever you can't have and you have the power to take it. That is why you're immune,"
"Clay is MY soulmate! He's MINE!"
"So when I told you about him, the only flash of light I had left in my life? You just had to take him away from me. You acted like I wasn't even there, that I was invisible! And you had the audacity to lie by telling me that he loved me! We know that's bullshit! I could never be good enough for someone like him! I mean, look! I've already ruined him!"
"And you--! You were supposed to protect me from everything that's happened to me, not stab me in the heart! I... I can't understand why you'd do such a thing...!"
“I still think it’s a shame you didn’t fight harder too, because... I think you would have been the friend I desperately needed. I can imagine you standing up to those people who hurt me, every single one of them. Yes, you would be scared but I know you’re capable of fighting back. And... if you do listen to this, maybe you will? Except it’s too late to make a difference for me,”
“Libby? You’ve been a great friend, probably one of the few genuine ones I’ve ever had. You’ve always tried to support me even when I didn’t deserve it and...! I just--! I just wish I could be as strong, brave and powerful as you...!"
“You may have needed me, but I also needed you. More than anything. I needed you to be my flash of light, my fire... but I don’t think you’ll ever leave Harran to find me. Why would you do that when you left me to die?"
"Think about it,"
...
Plot Twist: This tape is actually one that Hannah made for herself, which means that Libby is completely innocent...
