It usually takes about an hour to finally reach the particular star and about another hour to do the interplanetary bit. They were ecstatic the first ...ime I visited them and I've enjoyed their company many times since. They're an incredible people and just about the only race that I list as my friends. They're so gentle and so kind." "Have you revealed your secrets to them then?" I asked. "Not all. They don't want to leave their star system so they're quite happy with the interplanetary drive.. At least from a distance."You are short for a man," she said. Yeah, thanks for pointing that out.Bitch. "But your height is excellent for a woman. You are slender andmany of the features that make you a handsome man are also consideredbeautiful on a woman. You are somewhat too muscular but that can beconcealed with the proper clothing. To be honest, with effort you maynot just pass as female, but as an attractive one."Somehow that reassured me a bit. I mean, if you're going to do somethingthis. For the first time in his life,he has a safe place to sleep, food to eat, and has lost that sense ofdread that has plagued him for years.There is just one problem. And every day, that problem threatens todestroy everything Matthew has achieved. Every bit of happiness hisfoster parents have worked to give him. Matthew chooses to hide hisinner struggle for as long as possible.It all comes to a head one evening in early August. Rhea and Brian arespending the weekend giving a show in Reno. Though. 'Paul was having difficulty finding words himself. 'It's not what...? Demi, you left yesterday! What are you doing here with my wallet?' Another redundant question. 'How is this not what it looks like?' 'I - I wasn't stealing,' Demi insisted, her tone scared and unconvincing. 'I was just taking the forty pounds, you know, the forty pounds you owed me... For last Saturday...' But her voice was tailing off even as she said it, as Paul stared at her in fresh astonishment.'Martha withheld that.