Because you feel guilty too...

"I hate my parents." you say somberly. You're not totally sure where that even came from.

Vanessa seems rightfully perplexed about your answer. She has even stopped crying... almost as if the answer seemed so out of left-field that she forgot to be sad.

"My full name is Astrid Packet. My parents are managing partners of one of the biggest law firms in Florida, called the Packet Law Firm. I moved to Madison to get away from them."

Vanessa doesn't really seem to know what to say or do, so she just lets you continue your story.

"They are horrible people. They're greedy hand-shaking snakes who only think of themselves. I didn't want to heir their dirty money. So, I ran away. Through hitchhiking and doing oddjobs I got to Madison, and I fell in love with the place. I became a freelancer in web design. I'm good at it and I love doing it, but the only reason why I have clients in the first place is because people recognize me as the daughter of my parents."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" Vanessa finally found her footing again.

"Because I cannot escape the guilt of having everything handed to me. Even when I try to run away from it. Even when I live in an apartment three times cheaper than what I could comfortably afford. Even when I share my wealth for charities and good causes, I am constantly reminded of my privileged life. That's why I'm nice to you. Because I feel guilty too..."

You can't help but get a bit teary-eyed.
"I'm sorry." says Vanessa in a quiet comforting tone.
"What for?"
"For not trusting you. I was being paranoid."
"It's okay. You couldn't have known. Even now that I think about it, you were probably right. I was just nice to you to feel better about myself."
"Come on. That's bullshit, and you know it. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Now the roles have been reversed. Now it's the homeless girl trying to comfort you. Life is weird sometimes.

"Well, it's been a heck of a day for both of us. Maybe it's time to go to bed." Vanessa suggests.
"Yeah." you answer as you both get up from the dinner table: "I hope you're alright with sleeping on one of the couches. Your sister is kind of occupying my only bed."
Vanessa chuckles. "Hey, it beats sleeping under your staircase."
You laugh back.
And for the first time since you and Vanessa met, everything seems manageable and good.
You gaze into Vanessa's lovely green eyes, and she gazes back. Seeing her genuinely happy like this makes you feel weirdly giddy. It almost feels like you and Vanessa have known each other for a lifetime. When you look into her eyes you don't just see a fantastic woman. You see a purpose, a future, an escape.
Without realizing it, you and Vanessa have been moving closer together mesmerized in each other's eyes. You and Vanessa both starts to breathe heavily, your faces mere inches from each other.
The world seems unreal. It's like the concept of time is meaningless. It's like life has stopped working.

Your lips touch and the universe melts.