“Mom,” I said into her voicemail, “I can’t make lunch today. Don’t be mad, but I’m going back to Portland. My flight leaves in two hours. I’ll call you when I arrive. I’m sorry, I tried, but New York just isn’t for me.”

I hung up, so happy she hadn’t actually answered the phone. I didn’t want to argue with her and I certainly didn’t want to explain everything to her. There weren’t enough lies that I could come up with right now to make anything I said sound normal.

I’m leaving because your billionaire boss made me his sex slave and took my ass virginity at the top of the Empire State Building and I don’t know how to emotionally process all of this shit?

Yeah, it didn’t sound like something one should say to a parent, did it?

I grabbed my bag, my stack of library books and left the keys and Bear’s credit card on the kitchen counter. My stomach dropped as I closed the door for the last time. I made my way down to the security desk and asked the security guy if he would please return the books for me. I was so thankful he agreed, because the thought of trying to figure out how to get back to the library on my own was not a pleasant one.

I walked outside to hail a cab and ran right into Max.

“Ready to go meet Ms. Matilda for lunch, ma’am?” he asked.

“Oh, Max! I forgot to tell you, I’m so sorry. I won’t need you today. I’m not going to lunch with my Mom after all. In fact, I won’t need you at all anymore. But thank you, you’ve been so helpful and kind.”

“Won’t need me at all? Why not, ma’am?,” he asked.

“I’m going back to Portland.”

“Oh?” he asked. “Mr. Dalton didn’t mention it to me.”

“He doesn’t really know yet,” I said. “I just decided this morning.”

He looked at me, squinting his eyes curiously.

“Oh, I see,” he nodded.

“Thank you, again, Max. I’ll just hail a taxi to the airport.”

“Oh, no, ma’am. Please let me take you.”

“That’s okay,” I refused.

“No, I insist. Mr. Dalton would be so upset if I let you go in a taxi.”

I sighed, looking into his kind eyes.

“Okay, then,” I relented, “thank you, Max.”

“It is absolutely my pleasure!” he said, opening the door. He took my bag and put it in the trunk and slid behind the wheel. The glass was already down and I was grateful for it. I didn’t want to be alone right now.

The car pulled away from the curb and Max looked at me in the mirror.

“What is Portland like?” he asked.

“Portland? You’ve never been?” I asked, thinking about it. “It’s—well, it’s kind of dreary, actually. It rains about nine months out of the year.”

“That sounds awful,” he said.

“I guess so. You get used to it.”

“When I first moved to New York,” he said, “I hated it. I couldn’t believe people lived in such a crowded place. I was particularly offended by the rats. They seemed so big and they were everywhere.”

“That’s how I felt the first time I visited,” I agreed.

“But you know what?” he asked. “Now, I don’t even notice them. I’m just like everyone else, just going about my business and ignoring them. I used to shudder in disgust every time I saw one. It’s amazing what you can get used to in time.”

I nodded, thinking about what he was saying. He was right. I’d gotten used to quite a lot in my life. I’d gotten used to not having a father. I’d gotten used to my absentee mother. I’d gotten used to the rain and dreary skies.

“I suppose one could get used to almost anything,” I said.

“It’s true,” Max nodded.

We were silent for a few minutes, before he spoke up again.

“Mr. Dalton will not be happy you are leaving,” he said.

“You don’t think so?” I asked. “I guess he’ll get used to that, too, won’t he?”

“Maybe,” he replied, “but maybe not.”

“I think he’ll be okay,” I said.

“He’s a strong man, sure,” he said, thoughtfully, “but still, there’s something different about him when he’s with you. He lights up in a way I’ve never seen. Like something in him comes alive that he usually keeps hidden away in the dark.”

I nodded, speechless, my eyes stinging with tears.

We didn’t talk the rest of the way. I had no idea how to respond anyway and I was thankful he didn’t press the issue. There was something very special about Max and I realized I was going to miss him.

He pulled up to the drop off point at the airport and came around to open the door.

I stood on the sidewalk with my bags and put my hand out to shake his. He looked at my outstretched hand and smiled, before pulling me in for a hug and kissing my cheek.

“In Somalia, that is how we say goodbye to our friends.”

I smiled up at him.

“Thank you again, Max,” I said. “Take care of yourself.”

“I hope to see you again very soon, ma’am,” he said.

I nodded, a huge empty pit growing in the bottom of my stomach as I walked away and into the airport, leaving New York City and everything and everyone in it, far, far behind.