To forgive my abuser is to agree with God's empowering assessment. Forgiveness isn't a sign that my abuser has won, it's a sign that I've finally figured out that he's wrong, and he can't hold me hostage anymore. Oh, I guess it wasn't really such a big deal. It's an expensive transaction that costs the forgiver far more than the one being forgiven. But of course, the forgiver reaps the greater benefit in the end.
Justice involves reciprocity of some kind.
But forgiveness is an unconditional gift given to somebody who does not deserve it. To forgive is an act of the will. A loss of anxiety and a gaining of peace and joy may or may not be immediate products of forgiveness. Over time, most people will experience these emotions, but it's not automatic. Debbie faced a paradox.