Thank you for the thoughtful response. I have to edit so much out for a host of reasons - I try to keep my stories as short as I feel possible AND there are parts of my life that remain private.

I can reassure you that even though I was triggered, I had a long conversation with my therapist which was very helpful. Honestly, I thought she was going to be concerned about how triggered I got. She had the opposite reaction and walked me through why my reaction was totally normal given my history. She also gave me a suggestion that made me feel awesome afterward. (Unfortunately, William Windsor wasn't able to work with that suggestion. He obviously requires that kink and I'm not suited for it. C'est la vie.) Anyway, the fact that I didn't have the same reaction with Andy was also reassuring. And I will add that people who know me in real life that I have confided in see VAST improvement in me over the past decade.

In the end, though, I'll always need a very understanding partner. Many thanks for reading and reaching out!