Picking up where I left off here, a bit of rebellion in me was brewing.

My dad once asked Matthew why he was pursing me. We had an eleven-year age difference and while that may not matter once everyone is middle-aged, I was incredibly young and naive. And his 30+ years were filled with experiences, adult relationships, world travel, and eight years of college. I had exactly one year of college under my belt and that was it.

He told my dad that I was young enough that he could mold me into what he wanted. Concerned, my dad asked, “What will you do when she wakes up and leaves?”

I was listening at the floor vent in my parents’ room; my father’s den where he was talking to Matthew was directly below. Matthew must have made some gesture in response because they moved on. I honestly don’t think Matthew believed I’d ever wake up.