Master Alex was no longer eating. He was watching me—and then, suddenly, he began to ask questions.
“When you were listing your feelings, you said ‘shame.’ Why? What exactly are you ashamed of?”
He asked it as if he truly didn’t understand. No irony. No pressure. Just a question.
And I felt ashamed even answering that question. I said it out loud.
“I’m ashamed even to answer that.”
“And yet?”
“Talking about my feelings. About my desires. Being exposed in front of you…”
“But you’re very beautiful. And there’s nothing shameful in your desires.”
He said it so simply. As if it were an obvious truth—something I had just never been told before.
“In the information about you, it said you’re not a virgin. Is that true?”
“Yes.” I felt my cheeks flush.
“Did you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
