Chapter 6

He wins.

* * * *

Linton helps me find myself. Is it possible for one adult to do this with another adult? I’m not sure. Maybe. Maybe not. I want to think that this is normal in life. People help people without payment. That the world isn’t filled with demons like my parents. We’re not all monsters, hiding, waiting, watching for our prey, and ready to leap out on our next meal.

We’re in his Mazda 3. I don’t know where he’s driving me. He pulls out of the park and heads south, along the Allegheny River and he tells me, “This isn’t the kind of relationship you think it is. We’re not friends. We won’t be having sex. We won’t be lovers after I’m done with you. Hell, we might not even see each other after the next month or two. Truth is, I really don’t want to get to know you.”

“Then what kind of relationship is it?”

“A call of duty of sorts. Mycall of duty.”

“So you’re military.”

“I’d like to think I am. But I’m not affiliated with the government.”