"The fear, or your behaviour?" Solomon asked, because naturally, he would. He went on before she could have a chance to answer, his tone matter-of-fact, but at least not dismissive. At least, trying not to be dismissive--not of the phobia, so much as her reasoning.

"Judging by the way you've been pussy-footing around the issue, I assume you're talking about the fear. And of course it is. But it's still there, and ignoring it isn't making it go away; and in the meantime, you're forcing people who know you into the dark about whether there's anything wrong at all. From everything you've said, I've been under the impression friends don't care much about some foolishness here and there. If that's your reason for not telling a friend when it's relevant for them to know, it seems like a fairly poor one."