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Confused and a little surprised by his tone, I leaned toward him across the table.
    "That’s why you want to be a doctor…to help people." Another fact.
    "What makes you say that?" I leaned back. "You don’t know me like that." Maybe I said that a little too harshly, but I was taken aback by these statements and the way he said them. He didn’t know me, didn’t know my goals or dreams. Maybe I just wanted to make a lot of money or prolong my college experience with medical school. Maybe I just liked science.
    "You’re right," he interrupted my internal rant, "I don’t know you like that, Ashley. But I do know you want to help people. That’s just who you are; I don’t have to know you well to see that."
    I just looked at him, and he smiled the most heartbreaking smile. It lit up his entire face and made his beautiful eyes twinkle.
    "Alright, I give." He held his hands up in a conciliatory gesture. "Why do you want to be a doctor?" He was still smiling.
    I looked down at my, as yet, untouched cheese sandwich and sighed.
    "To help people," I mumbled. Know-it-all.
    I looked up in time to catch his triumphant smile. I rolled my eyes at him, and he laughed. I picked up my sandwich and took a bite. It was time to change the subject.
    "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" I was always curious about people’s families. I loved to hear stories about moms and dads, brothers and sisters, holidays, pets and family dinners. But I was very curious about Colin’s family, more so than usual.
    "Yup," he answered, "one of each." When he smiled, I saw a hint of the same look he’d had when talking about his mother. "They’re both younger than me," he continued. Then he looked into my eyes and asked, "You?" His voice was serious.
    I looked away from him and shook my head as I answered, "No." I picked up my sandwich and took another bite.
    It was silent for a long moment. Finally, I lifted my head until my gaze met Colin’s. He had a strange look on his face, another one I hadn’t seen before. He looked serious, too serious, but also a little sad.
    "It’s strange," he began, "We did that whole interview thing, and I asked you a million questions. And then we’ve talked and stuff, you know, but I feel like I don’t know you at all, Ashley." He leaned over the table toward me. "But," he continued, "I feel like I’m supposed to."
    He was still staring at me with that strange look and, for a minute, I just sat staring back. Then, suddenly, I had to look away. The way he was looking at me was too intense, and so I abruptly shifted my eyes down to the table. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.
    There was a reason Colin didn’t know much about me; no one knew much about me, and I needed to remember that. I would not have him feeling sorry for me, pitying me. I was happy in this life. I would not let that old life interfere. I could not let my guard down.
    I lifted my head and looked back up at him. His beautiful face still looked sad. I forced my mouth into a smile, but I knew it didn’t reach my eyes. I wanted so badly to open up to him, to anyone , but Colin especially. He had been so kind to me; I felt I owed him candor. I owed myself candor. But I knew that wasn’t possible.
    "Colin." I breathed his name and leaned toward him even more, resting my chin in my hand. "You probably know more about me than anyone on campus," I replied as lightheartedly as I could manage. It was true. After last night’s exercise, he really did know more about me than anyone on this campus — more than most people I met ever got to know. I kept the smile plastered on my face as he leaned in more, our faces were only inches apart now.
    "Yeah," he said, but he shook his head. "But it doesn’t feel like enough." He spoke softly.
    He seemed so…upset. I didn’t know what to say, how to react. I wanted so badly to open up and tell him whatever he wanted to know about my parents, my family, and my homes. I wanted him to know me. But I