I'm not trying to excuse Ben, at all, but the version I met who was from maybe a few months into the Empire? I never cornered him on exactly how long, but it couldn't have more than a year.
Ben was already talking sometimes like Anakin was dead, when there were other people around who remembered him and knew the truth. Like it was the only way he knew how to live with it all. I tried to, I guess you could say - gently puncture that thought process because I don't think it was actually good for him, either.
I definitely see how, more alone, he could pretty much convince himself that was close enough to true.
no subject
Ben was already talking sometimes like Anakin was dead, when there were other people around who remembered him and knew the truth. Like it was the only way he knew how to live with it all. I tried to, I guess you could say - gently puncture that thought process because I don't think it was actually good for him, either.
I definitely see how, more alone, he could pretty much convince himself that was close enough to true.