It has occurred to me that I haven’t disclosed the intimate nature of my relationship with Alex. I was reticent to explain what was happening during those three years. I was fearful of ruining my intense intimacy with this man who bared his soul to me, showed me his dark side as well as his bright one.  It was just too personal…just the way I have always liked my relationships with men. Our privacy and especially the mystery thrilled me…the secrecy of it all kept us bound to each other from the beginning.