Instead, he came to my side of his desk and sat in the other visitor chair. I watched him warily, trying in vain to discern his intentions. “Tell me, Camilla, do you have anyone to share these burdens with?” “Burdens?” I asked, confused. “Your stress and worries. I haven’t noticed you hanging around any other students to suggest you have a close friend or boyfriend. Is there anyone you’re close to and trust to talk with?” I pondered his question, feeling horribly ashamed to realize the answer was no. Not only that, but he’d intuited my answer long before I had. My family was good, but cold in a way. I always felt like I needed to do better to measure up, which didn’t create an environment that fostered open communication. Giada wouldn’t understand my issues at all, and Val was just a kid.
