NELINA

A week has passed, and I've decided to give it another try with Royce. I talked to Royce on the phone last Friday, and he volunteered to pick me up at our condo unit because he wanted to talk to mom personally. At first, I was hesitant to have him at home. But he insisted and was stubborn to pursue meeting mom and dad, giving them assurance that I'm safe with him.

So, I thought it was good to give mom assurance since she was reluctant. I shared what happened during our last date; Marica and mom were both concerned. The idea of digging into my traumatic experience in...