“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you want me to provide you with a safe space to talk and give you friendship, right?” I’d assumed he wanted a friend after he’d said he wanted to know me. “Yes.” “When my friends are distressed, I comfort them. I don’t think you’d want me to hug you, so I’m asking if you’d accept something smaller and less intrusive.” Gil’s teeth scraped across his bottom lip as if he was contemplating my words.
