"I am ok. I promise. Besides.. you know what that fire did to me. I could never ask a woman to have to put up with my scars. They can be so kind but I'm sure deep inside they would be horrified or disgusted ..."

A lump had appeared in this throat as he spoke and felt misery return as he spoke about one truth no matter what gender he liked they could never like him. He was grateful when Anne took him out of his thoughts as he accepted the tea. "Thank you, Anne. Very kind of you..."