Water Bound

 Here's to many more firsts and many more great memories.
 For the first time in his existence, he knew he was drowning and he wasn't thinking about survival.
 He felt safe with her. He'd never been safe with another human being, not since he'd been taken as a child from his home. He'd never been able to trust. He could never give that last small piece - all that was left of his humanity - into someone else's keeping. And now there was Rikki. She let him be whatever he had to be to survive. She didn't ask anything of him. There was no hidden motive. No agenda. Just acceptance. She was different - imperfect, or so she thought - and she knew what it was like to fight to carve out a space for herself. She was willing for him to do that.
 I know what it's like to battle everyday  of my life, just for acceptance, just to survive. And may be that was love. Being so vulnerable and allowing someone else in so far they could hurt you, but they also give you everything.
 If you allowed yourself to hear or feel amusement, you would hear and feel pain.