What my mother taught me

Barbara, it is your job to guard your virture. No one else can be trusted to do this. It is for you to do alone.

Men are wired to conquer your virtue, not to protect it. All men. There are no exceptions. It is up to you to guard your body and your mind and your heart.

We guard our virtue for our Beloved alone, not for any man. We guard our virtue because our Beloved is a jealous Lover. He would have us to have none before Him, none beside Him. We cannot hide from Him in darkened rooms, behind closed doors. All is laid bare before Him, every look, every touch, every breath, every longing of our heart.

So, Barbara, guard your virtue with all diligence. The penalties are woesome but the rewards are sweet.