The story ends, the story begins

That night we met, Cam asked me if I needed a place to stay.  "I've got plenty of room," he said.

"No strings attached," he said when I looked at him.

I was so tired, and that was why I didn't say yes right away.  I didn't know if I was thinking straight.  I felt like there must be something I wasn't seeing.

I felt like Cam was safe and kind and his offer was exactly what he said it was.

I guess it sounds crazy to say you'll go and live with someone you've just met.

But the fact that I needed somewhere to go so badly, and why, wasn't exactly a scene from Planet Sanity either.

Do you live by yourself?

"Yes."

I'm allergic to dogs.  Also afraid of them, but he didn't need to know that.

"No pets, no smoking, no loud music after 10:00 PM."

I like loud music.

He laughed. "I made that one up, actually.  I only have one neighbor, and she's partly deaf."  He looked at me.  "Will you come and see my place?"

He always phrased things like that, in the least threatening way possible.

Okay.