"I stay lonely because I know how to be lonely. I know I can't mess that up," Ava sighs, picking at the thumb hole in her sleeve. "I don't have the best luck with people, and I get frustrated when they misunderstand what I mean, or I misunderstand their intentions, and then we just get upset at each other and I feel worse off than if I had just kept to myself. I don't feel like I'm making any progress. I don't feel as if anyone actually benefits from being around me, or that I'm good company. And it's not a problem I'm willing to fix for the benefit of others, to be more enjoyable." And so the whole things feels like a lost cause from the start.

"No, I'm not asking you to be impressed. I'm telling you that you're very likely underestimating the full extent of my capabilities."