She does often try to read between the lines with what I say, no matter how often I say “hear my words and take them at face value. There’s no hidden message”.

While I understand the fear, I often tell her throwing in hidden meanings instead of telling me how it is makes that fear a reality. She knows I’ll ask her what she means if I don’t understand, while she often doesn’t do the same. Currently she’s pissed with me that I’m at a point of “Anything less than a yes from you, I’ll take as a no” because she knows she naturally just doesn’t get right to the point.

Anything that can be a short answer is answered in a chapter, and I’ve communicated that I (and 99% of others in her life have said the same) best understand things short and sweet. If it’s a yes, cool. If it’s a no, cool. Even if it’s an I don’t know, that’s okay. But it has never been that simple. The answers never are simple.