“Because letting her guard down means she lets go of a little bit of control, and she likes to hold it all together. Letting go makes her vulnerable, leaves her exposed, and that’s worse than death for her.” His voice is steady and low. My breath catches in my throat with a tug of surprise in my chest, a little emotional suddenly, as he really seems to know me.

“If I’m vulnerable, people can hurt me. Men can hurt me,” I whisper into the darkness of my room, too honest in my ...