"Hey, I'm having a really rough day, can I come over and hang out?" I ask you over the phone.
"Sure. Come on over."
When I get to your house, you open your door with a welcoming smile. You give me a comforting hug, and I start crying.
"Woah, what's going on?" You ask, concerned.
"I don't even know. Nothing. Everything. I'm just tired of being lonely. Tired of being treated like I'm nothing until he wants sex. Mostly, I think I am just plain tired. I stay up late to avoid having to go to bed with him, the sex is all about him and I am left feeling empty every single time."
You let me cry for a while in your warm, comfortable arms before guiding me to the couch to sit down. Resting my head on your shoulders, we sit in silence for a while.
"You don't deserve that." You say after a few minutes. "He is a selfish, worthless excuse for a man, and you deserve more. You need more, or you will go insane." You say as you move to look me in the eyes. "When was the last time you felt safe and secure?" You ask.
"Honestly, right now, being here with you. I always feel safe over here. You are the only one who doesn't excuse his behavior because of his gender. You don't tell me it's normal. I know it isn't normal, and you are the only one who listens." I say, on the verge of tears again.
You gently slap my knee and stand up.
"Let's take your mind off of this and do something fun." You say.
I look at you, unsure what you mean. Taking my hand, you pull me off the couch and lead me to the garage. You grab a motorcycle helmet and hand it to me.
"Seriously?" I ask. "I have never ridden one before."
"Don't worry, I won't go too fast unless you want me too." You assure me.
Because I trust you, I climb on the back of your black and chrome motorcycle, wrapping my arms around your waist for stability. As you start up the bike, I notice how the engine vibrates underneath me. It is a very pleasant sensation.
We back out of the garage and down the driveway onto the street. As we take off down the road, I am already feeling better as the fresh air hits my skin. We ride around the neighborhood a while before you head onto the main road. Moving faster than I expected we start heading out of town. I want to ask where we are going, but I know I won't be heard over the engine.
After a brisk ride down the highway, you turn off into the woods. Slowing down significantly, you expertly guide the bike down a path deeper into the woods. We finally come to a clearing where you stop, put down the kickstand and kill the engine.
"Well, what did you think?" You ask, a smile on your face.
"That was the most fun I have had in a very long time!" I reply.
We sit down on the bed of dry grass and leaves and spend the next several minutes talking about nothing in particular. I feel you move a strand of hair out of my face, and the feel of your skin on mine sends shivers through my body that I hadn't felt in years.