[He purses his lips together, breathing in through his nostrils, not quite meeting Toby's gaze]

There was a time where I had taken that fact for granted, assuming it was the natural state of things. And that's what made relationships so dangerous. You could never tell what secrets a person held in their heart, nor what they would do with yours should they uncover them.

[He breathes out and grips his glass, not lifting it up]

So I avoided them altogether. It seemed safer that way. However...

[He shakes his head]

I've started to question the wisdom in that.