[While she wants to feel like she could trust him, part of her isn't so sure, or at least hesitant (12). She's sympathetic to their story. She can't say she hasn't found herself in similar supernatural extortion situations. But, fool her once, shame on her. Fool her twice ... well, still shame on her.

She folds her fingers around her coffee mug and grips it tightly, trying to make sure she chooses her words in a way that isn't isolating.]

I want to believe you. But in the venn diagram of people who lied to me about who they were, and people there to protect me and have my best interests at heart, there haven't been a lot of people in the middle.