Five days after Owen and I returned home, Valerie called me late at night. She sounded frightened and embarrassed but said she was safe. “I think I made a mistake,” she whispered. I told her to leave, go somewhere public, and contact me when she was comfortable. By morning, I had arranged to meet her.
At breakfast, Valerie explained what had happened. Russell had initially been charming, but soon he began discussing their future as though they were already a couple. He talked about houses, holidays, and places where “they” could live. Valerie realized she barely knew him and wanted to return home.
Russell did not threaten her or stop her from leaving, but he repeatedly tried to convince her that she was afraid of happiness. Valerie finally understood that she wasn’t afraid of happiness; she simply didn’t want their relationship moving so quickly. She had called me because she knew I would listen without making her feel foolish.
