07-15-2017, 03:28 PM
Her body tensing up under my wing, her muscles clenched against my sides told me so much. It had already happened. Someone had touched her. Someone she knew, likely someone here on this island. I resisted the urge to grill the answer out of her. One, I knew she was too stubborn and would instantly resist should I try. And two, I didn’t want to lose this with her. I didn’t want her to ever clam up and shut me out because of how I reacted to what she said.
“Well.” I start softly, hoping to whatever fairy gods were in this world that I treaded carefully through this quagmire. “Family should never, ever touch you like that. Family is for hugs and soft kisses that make you feel all warm and happy and safe. Family touches are for security and familiarity. They shouldn’t make you feel like you are standing on the edge of a cliff, a fine razor edge of emotions that you can’t feel like you can control, or that you know how to control.” I look out over the island again, letting my gaze wander along the coastline. “They shouldn’t make you feel emotions that you don’t know the names of.”
“Strangers, well they are a little different. If you feel those funny emotions with a stranger it might be best to wait until you know them a little bit better. How do you think you would feel if you did something that made you feel funny with a stranger and then you never saw them again? Or the next time you did see them, they were really mean?” I turn my eyes to look down at her. “I know it would make me feel bad and all sad inside.”
“Those funny emotions can lead to other things, more life changing things.” I pause, just briefly. “It’s much better if you wait a couple of years before you act on those funny emotions. I know it’s hard because it feels nice to feel like that, but trust me, baby, it’s much better to wait and do the very best to not act on them yet.”
“Well.” I start softly, hoping to whatever fairy gods were in this world that I treaded carefully through this quagmire. “Family should never, ever touch you like that. Family is for hugs and soft kisses that make you feel all warm and happy and safe. Family touches are for security and familiarity. They shouldn’t make you feel like you are standing on the edge of a cliff, a fine razor edge of emotions that you can’t feel like you can control, or that you know how to control.” I look out over the island again, letting my gaze wander along the coastline. “They shouldn’t make you feel emotions that you don’t know the names of.”
“Strangers, well they are a little different. If you feel those funny emotions with a stranger it might be best to wait until you know them a little bit better. How do you think you would feel if you did something that made you feel funny with a stranger and then you never saw them again? Or the next time you did see them, they were really mean?” I turn my eyes to look down at her. “I know it would make me feel bad and all sad inside.”
“Those funny emotions can lead to other things, more life changing things.” I pause, just briefly. “It’s much better if you wait a couple of years before you act on those funny emotions. I know it’s hard because it feels nice to feel like that, but trust me, baby, it’s much better to wait and do the very best to not act on them yet.”