the revelation that Buddy Cole was not actually on hand in the traditional sense to save her means two things for Annie – that she saved herself, and that she is vindicated in her claims of having psychic powers, because she holds in her hand something that Buddy gave her after he saved her. Secondly, it delivers a ‘Not All Men’ finishing touch to the toxic masculinity depiction in this story. All the men Annie encounters in this story are examples of different manifestations of toxic masculinity, except for Buddy. Buddy, it turns out, is as much a victim of toxic masculinity as Jessica King, and this is an incredibly important point make. 

Discussion about toxic masculinity in any forum is guaranteed to draw the ire of men unwilling to accept the fact that the phenomenon is real, and t...

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