July 2, 2018:

Yah, I admit it. I snooped a little.

Just enough to find her on the Dean's List. Not even a little unexpected.

It's what happens. When someone's symptomatically closed. You have to wonder what the secrets hide. Whether they put you at risk.

There was a girl once who was seeing many other guys. At school, at festivals. We'd promised exclusivity but I knew from the start she was lying. She withheld information necessary for me to make decisions about my health. I broke it off, gently I hope. I like her a ton.

This one's different. She's concerned for her own safety, after bad experiences with both liars and stigma.

And she wants me to know her. In her enthusiasm she lets slip the details she thinks she's holding close.

I'm not sure where this will go. I like her so much. Ultimately she'll have to trust me enough to drop the barriers that remain.

They're not very big. They could fall any day now. It'll be a good day when they do.