Monster
He talked to her. Said good and true things. Sometimes. She asks a question. He tries responding ... but maybe talks too long or pauses long enough. She interrupts - not wanting to lose her thought(s). He gets hurt - maybe gets offended, maybe forgets what he was going to say. And he feels smaller. Why don't words work? So he attacks. Or defends. In the trenches, is there a difference? She crumbles. She was just trying to connect. Maybe she's perfect. Maybe he's flawed. There doesn't seem to be a way to be vulnerable without being attacked. He learned, long ago, that being attacked is painful. And only stupid people let themselves be hurt. So when his guard is up, he stops the attack. Because if he can't be pain-free, at least he will be safe.