chapter 14 - Max

I don't know how to take in what she has told me. How she's had to have this hanging over her head for years-the fear and guilt of ever being touched by another male-makes me want to kill him. I wait in the kitchen, which connects to the hallway, when I see her coming out of the bathroom with her bag over her shoulder and her camera in her hand, ready to go. Is that what she wants? Or is it something she thinks I want? I wasn't exactly looking at her when she rushed out of the room. I certainly don't want her to think that this is what I want because I'd rather know her and her past.

"Where are you going?" I ask her again as she turns around and faces me. Her eyes are puffy, so she's been crying, and her shoulders are slumped down, which means exactly what I thought-she's scared to feel anything towards a man. Vulnerability before is masked with nothing, and it's like she's trying to get rid of me or anything she wants to feel.

"Let's be honest here, Max. I'm too screwed to be in a re