We were in the middle of our conversation; more accurately, we were exchanging small talk, where she did most of the talking while I listened, when it hit me, that thing that has had me going around in circles and burning a hole in my gut. It was her innocence, her age, or, more to the point, the wide gap between us and what that could mean moving forward.

She’s so innocent, so trusting; I shudder to think what might’ve happened to her had I been someone else. Had I had impure ...