With one last breath I broke free of the flames, stumbling into the night, lungs screaming for air. I had been on the brink of collapsing back there, and I had held my breath much longer than I ever could in those underwater games we used to play. The house we had just barely settled into was being consumed by licks of flame as I fell panting on the street, trying to force life into my lungs. It had happened so suddenly, the smell of smoke and the sound of crackling wood. Al I remember is running and struggling, not daring to breathe as I found my way to safety. Once I had ended my struggle, not a thought passed through my mind outside of realizing how lucky I was.

    Then everything else hit.

    Where was my family?

    I felt a sick, sinking feeling as my insides twisted, realizing they might not have been so lucky.

    Scrambling to my feet I scanned the area, straining to see in the darkness. I was hoping to see some sign of life, that someone else had escaped like had.

    There was nothing. Nothing but the charred wood of a building that had been my home for only a brief period. A wave of horror washed over me as I realized they were dead. My family was dead, claimed by the fire. My whole body trembled as I fell back to the ground, fists clenching out of anger, eyes watering out of sadness, and heart ripping at the pain. It was so much so soon. In a burst of flame, everything I knew was gone. My mind couldn't even comprehend it. The pieces wouldn't click. What was I to do?

    I pulled myself to my feet, looking once more at that which was home, at that which was my life. I didn't  know hot it was started, but I wondered how it would end.

    Without another thought I did the only thing I could. I turned on my heels and ran away as fast as I could, tears stinging my eyes. I had to get away, no matter where I ended up.

    Somehow I had survived. All I knew how to do was run from my fears. After all, I was just shy of eleven years old.

    I had no where to turn, no where to go. For days afterwards I wandered, trying to make any sense of what my life was now. I was cold, hungry and lonely.

    Often times, when my feet hurt from walking to nowhere, I would sit in an alley, bow my head, and cry, thinking of all I had lost in that fire. I thought often of my family and how things used to be. It was the only life I had known and never had I imagined what it would be like if it all faded away. Now I wished that maybe I had thought of it. Then maybe I would have some clue.

    One morning I woke up in a bed of flowers.

    I sat up, glancing around and trying to remember how I got to his place. My memory failed me. Somehow in my delirious state, weak from hunger, I must have wandered in here and passed out.

    I had picked a nice spot. The church was warm, and the flower bed was comfortable. The flowers were probably even edible, and I was hungry enough to try I picked one and examined it closely. Even if it kills me, I thought, I'll be just as well off as I am now. I opened my mouth to devour it when a screeching female voice interrupted me.

    "Ewwww!!"

    I paused, the only food in days inches from my lips, and turned my head. There was a little girl staring at me. I just blinked.

    "Don't eat my flowers! That's gross! And your smushing them! Look!" She pointed to where I was sitting.

    "I'm hungry," I explained calmly. "This flower looks pretty delicious to me."

    "Eww!" she scrunched up her nose. "Then go home and eat something."

    "I can't," I admitted, looking away as a sadness filled my voice.

    She seemed concerned as she asked, "why not?"

    I sighed sadly. "I haven't got a home anymore."

    A long silence passed between us and I didn't move, wondering what she would say.

    "I'm Aeris," she said softly, sounding a bit amazed. "What's your name?"

    "Tseng," I turned my head. "My family died in a fire a little while ago. This church is the nicest place I've been to."

    "It's real nice," she agreed, nodding. "And it's the only place flowers will grow in the whole city."

    I suddenly felt bad for picking one and sitting on them, so I stood, brushing the dirt from my pants. "Sorry."

    "It's okay," she shrugged. "More will grow. You want real food?"

    My parents had always told me not to accept anything from strangers. I think in this case they wouldn't mind. I nodded vigorously. "Oh yes."

    "Then come on." Aeris waved for me to follow as she walked towards the exit. "We'll go to my house."

    I walked besides her through the slums of Sector five. She talked a lot, but I just nodded my head without really listening, still shocked at the kindness she was showing me.

    "Here's my house!"

    The house was so out of place it looked as though it had fallen from another world. Contrasting to the ramshackle housing the citizens of the slums lived in, Aeris' house was large and luxurious, surrounded by a garden of flowers. I was enthralled. "Are we still in Midgar?"

    She giggled. "Course, silly! Come on in!" she reached for the door knob.

    "Wait!" I called before she could alert her parents of my presence. "Don't tell anyone I'm homeless, okay?"

    Blinking at me, she asked, "why?"

    "I don't want to go to an orphanage." I looked down as I said it.

    "Why?" she asked again. "Wouldn't that be better than living on the street?"

    I remembered all the books I had read, where all the children in orphanages would have rather been anywhere but stuck there, trapped in misery. I used to read a lot before it all went up in flames. To answer her question, I just shook my head no.

    "All right........" she replied, sounding somewhat uncertain. "I won't tell."

    "Thank you."

    "Come on! Mo-om!" She went inside, loudly announcing her arrival. I followed cautiously, carefully closing the door behind me.

    The woman I presumed to be Aeris' mother entered from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Oh, Aeris. I'm surprised to see you home so soon." She looked at me with surprised but not coldness. "Who's this?"

    "Tseng," she introduced me. "Tseng, this is my mom."

    "Hello." I was unable to look anywhere but at the floor.

    "He's hungry mom," Aeris told her mother. "Think he could have something to eat?"

    The older woman was silent for a moment as she studied me. And by the look that came over her face, I think she knew what I was. "Certainly. Please sit down."

    I looked down again as I thanked her and took a seat besides Aeris as her mother disappeared back into the kitchen.

    "So, how old are you?"

    "Ten. But I'll be eleven soon."

    "Wow! You're old! I'm four!" she announced cheerfully.

    "Four?" I blinked. "I thought you were like six."

    Aeris giggled. "Nope! Four!"

    "Hm." I looked down at my hands which were resting folded on the table. There was the smell of something delicious wafting in from the kitchen. My stomach growled embarrassingly loud and I could feel a blush creep up on my cheeks.

    "You really *are* hungry." Aeris commented.

    Her mother returned with bowls of soup, and my mouth watered as she set it in front of me. "Here you are. Enjoy!"

    "Thank you," I said quietly, barely containing my excitement as I dug into the delicious smelling meal. I ate as slowly as I could, and Aeris mostly observed me, rather than eating her own soup.

    She was quiet as I devoured three bowls of soup, making sure to frequently thank the woman who had so generously let me into her home.

    "Are you going to go now?" Aeris looked concerned as she asked.

    I nodded. "I guess so. Thanks a lot for letting me come."

    "Maybe you could stay," she suggested. "Maybe you could sleep over."

    Shaking my head I got back to my feet. "Tell your mother thank you once again."

    She looked sad as she asked. "Where will you go?"

    I shrugged my shoulders. "Look for somewhere to go."

    "Come back here," she told me. "Whenever you want, okay?"

    I met her eyes. "All right."

    A smile reappeared on her lips. "Good! Cause we're friends now."

    I couldn't help smiling back.

    I suffered greatly those years. Sometimes I wondered how I was able to survive these conditions at all. The streets of Midgar were cold and dangerous. I often found I had to steal food to live another day. Every time I was reduced to doing so, the guilt ate away at my conscience. I shouldn't have had to live this way, but there was no other way for me.

    I thought a lot about the fire, about how it felt like I still wasn't free of it. I was still running from it, and I didn't know if I would ever get out. I used to ponder the ways it could have happened, and I shuddered as I remembered my father's smoking. He would smoke constantly, most often when he was working. I ultimately came to the conclusion that it was one of his cigarettes that had killed us all. I was still alive, but that fire had taken my life with everyone else's.

    Whenever things were at their worst, I would turn to Aeris. Her and her mother were always so kind and welcomed me with open arms. It was always difficult to go back to the streets after spending time there. Aeris never made it easier. She would beg me stay. We had become good friends over the almost five years we had known one another. It seemed a little strange that a nearly fifteen year old boy and an eight year old girl were so close, but Aeris was no eight year old. She would often tell me how she heard the planet speaking to her in the church of the slums. I knew there was something special about her, but I wasn't sure what it was. If she knew, she never said anything to me.

    "I think I should get a job." We sat at the table eating cookies her mother had baked for us. Nothing beat fresh out of the oven chocolate chip.

    She blinked at me with wide eyes. "A job? Where?"

    I shrugged as I reached for another cookie. "I don't know. But someone must wanna hire a teenage boy willing to do anything." I lowered my voice. "I can't live on the street anymore. I gotta get out."

    Aeris frowned at me. "I *told* you you could stay here, Tseng! Why won't you? My mother won't mind. She adores you!"

    Shaking my head, I just told her, "no," as I always did.

    There was nothing but silence as she simply picked at her cookie. "I don't understand you," she finally mumbled.

    I made no reply for a few moments. Then out of nowhere, I said, "I think I might go to Wall Market."

    "Wall Market?" Her eyes were on me again. "Tseng..." she scrunched up her nose. "My mother said that's a seedy area."

    "It's the only place where people have money besides the plate," I reminded her. "And I don't think I can just go up to Shinra Headquarters, bang on the door and ask for a job."

    "I don't like Shinra anyway," Aeris whispered, mostly to herself but I heard her. Then she looked up, brow furrowed. "Tseng?"

    "Yes?" I felt a little wary all of the sudden.

    "What was your life like before?"

    I froze. "Before what? The fire?"

    "Yes," she hesitated briefly. "You never told me much about your family."

    "You never asked," I pointed out.

    "I was scared too." She looked away. "I thought it might upset you."

    It does upset me. But at the same time, I like to talk about them. It's as if they're alive again. "It's all right, Aeris. You can ask about them." I finished the last of my cookie. "What is it you wish to know?"

    Her green eyes met mine. "Tell me about a memory you have, Tseng. A happy one. One that makes me smile."

    "Hm." I shut my eyes, letting my mind to drift to happy times that seemed so far away. For a long moment, I was silent, waiting for the clearest memory to claim my mind. "I used to live in Wutai," I explained, and I told her my story.

    Leven, my brother, and one year older than me. Cari, my sister, was a year older than him. I was the youngest. I was quiet, and spent much of time reading. Leven was loud and a risk taker. Cari was the ideal big sister. Leven used to tease me often, but it was always in jest. I couldn't have asked for better siblings.

    "Come on, Tseng! Put that silly book down and come play outside with his!" Leven grinned as he grabbed the book and held it over my head.

    "Leave him alone!" Cari scolded, retrieving the book and handing it back. "Here you go, Tsengy. Don't let him bully you."

    I smiled. "Thank you."

    "Was not bullying him!" Leven protested, pouting as he crossed his arms. "I just wanted him to come!"

    "Did you try asking nicely?" she smiled.

    My brother laughed. "Now what would I do that for?"

    I smiled too, placing down my book. "Well when you put it that way, what choice do I have?"

    Leven's grin widened, and he punched me gently in the shoulder as he stood. "That's the spirit, kid!"

    "Kid?" I raised an eyebrow. "I'm a year younger than you!"

    "You're it!" Leven laughed as he tagged me and took off into the backyard.

    Cari laughed, following. "Come on, Tsengy! What're you waiting for?"

    I grinned and took off after Leven. He knew I was faster, and I caught him quickly. "How's that for a *kid*?" I laughed.

    "Eh, I *let* you catch me," he lied, grinning at me.

    "No way!" I protested. "You're just mad cause I'm faster than you."

    "Like you actually need to be able to run fast. That's not going to help you in life."

    "Tseng?"

    I could hear Aeris' voice as I stopped in the middle of the memory, bowing my head and trying not to cry. I silently cursed myself for having such a vivid memory. Oh yeah, Leven? Running fast is why *I'm* alive, and why *you* are not.

    "Are you all right, Tseng?" She was at my side, a small, delicate hand on my arm. "I didn't want to upset you!"

    I was crying. "I escaped cause I was fast," I whispered, voice choked by the tears. I wiped them away, embarrassed at crying in front of the young girl. "He was wrong... So wrong..."

    Arms went around me, and I could feel Aeris' cheek against my shoulder. "Don't cry, Tseng. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad."

    I shook my head. "It's not your fault."

    She pulled on my hand. "Come on, Tseng. It's getting late. Why don't you sleep over?" I let her pull me to my feet. "You can have a nice rest."

    With a vague nod I gave in, and allowed her to lead me up the stairs.

    "Tsengy?"

    "Cari?" My eyes fluttered open, and I turned to lay eyes on Aeris' face, even paler in the moonlight. "Oh, Aeris. Is something wrong?"

    "Your family doesn't want you to be sad, Tseng. They love you."

    My black eyes searched out her green ones. "Aeris... How do you know this?"

    "I can....feel it."

    I didn't know how I was supposed to reply. My mouth was dry and my mind was a blank.

    Then she leaned over and kissed me, very lightly on the forehead. My eyes widened in shock. "Aeris?"

    "There are few people who know me better than you do, Tseng. Find your life again."

    I couldn't force my eyes open, and I drifted back to sleep. The next morning I wondered if it was all just a dream...

    There were far more men than women, I noticed as I looked around and headed North. I knew this was a seedy part of town, but I was beginning to wonder if all the women in the town were whores.

    It was by chance that a sign caught my eye. The word WANTED jumped out at me, and I went over to read the print underneath.

    It almost seemed too good to be true, and I stood and gawked at it for a second. 10 gil an hour *and* room and board? I didn't care in the least what 'odd jobs' encompassed. I was prepared to lick the floor of every room clean  for something so great. Giddy with excitement, I ripped the sign off and inquired where the Corneo Mansion was. I got a strange look from the man I asked, but he pointed North, and I practically ran there, my heart pumping with a joy long since dormant. My hopes had shot up into the heavens, and I knew I had to have this job or die.

    There was a man standing outside, and I approached him.

    "I'm here for the job." I smiled hopefully.

    He gave me a weird look. "The Don's not into little boys. You'll have to go to Sector eight for that."

    I blinked. "What? No, I'm here for this job." I handed him the flyer.

    His eyes glazed over it. "Oh! Right!" He chuckled. "Sorry 'bout that. Go on in and tell the guy at the desk why you're here." He returned the paper to me.

    I thanked him and went in.

    I felt dwarfed by the size of the massive room, and my eyes grew wide, wondering how anyone could be this rich.

    "May I help you?"

    The voice of the man behind the desk brought me back to reality and I went to him, holding out the flyer. "I'm here for the job."

    He took the flyer and looked it over. "Ah, yes. The job. Your name?"

    "Tseng Tyutyuik."

    "Your age?"

    "Fourteen. But I will be fifteen very soon."

    He looked up, peering at me over his glasses. "Your parents?"

    "Dead."

    He nodded and said, "you're hired."

    The words were music to my ears. A wide grin spread across my face and I felt like doing back handsprings around the room. "Wow! Thank you, sir! Thank you very much!"

    The old man remained subdued. "You'll work with Bryatt. He'll show you the ropes around here." He turned and called the name.

    "Yeah? What's up?"

    I felt my jaw drop as I laid eyes upon the boy that had just entered the room. He looked a bit older than me, but not much taller. His brown hair was a bit messy and he had large light blue eyes that sparkled as the light reflected off them. My eyes drifted over his sinewy form, clad in tight jeans and a gray polo shirt. There was a stirring in my blood like I never felt before in my life, and I felt myself growing flushed. Oh my god, I realized with shock, I'm attracted to another guy!

    "Bryatt," said the old man, "meet Tseng, your new partner."

    Bryatt threw me a lopsided grin and I thought my knees would give and I would melt into a puddle. "Hey, Tseng. Great to meet ya."

    "Ni-nice to meet you too," I stuttered as I felt myself blushing.

    The old man handed me fifty gil. "Here's some money for some new clothes. Bryatt will take you shopping after he shows you to your room."

    I swallowed nervously, ears perking up at the word 'your'. "Wait, what?"

    "We have to share a room," Bryatt said to me. "The Don ain't nice enough to give us our own."

    "That's enough. You're lucky you get anything at all you ungrateful brat," snapped the old man.

    "Yeah, yeah. Come on Tseng." He headed back out the way he had come.

    I hurried after him. It is said that without struggle there is no progress. My struggle was behind me now, and all I could see what the bright white light of progress, and a new life.

    "I'm fourteen, but I'll be fifteen soon," I told you. "How old are you?"

    "Sixteen. Orphan all my life. Been working for the Don about three years now, so there isn't anything I don't know."

    "Were you in an orphanage?" I couldn't help but ask.

    He nodded solemnly. "Worst years of my life. Once I ran away I felt so free..."

    "I'm an orphan too," I explained. "I've been living on the street since my parents died in a fire when I was ten."

    "It's a tough life livin' on the street. This job's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I may complain, but we're treated pretty good." He pushed the door open. "Welcome to your new home."

    Home. The word sounded good to my ears. The room was small and basically bare. There was a pile of clothes in the corner and some books scattered about the floor. Against the wall was a single bed, neatly made. "One bed?" I felt myself tremble.

    "Yeah," Bryatt chuckled as he replied. "Does that gross you out? Sleeping with another guy?"

    I shook my head no before I even thought.

    He smiled at me and went in. "Good."

    I followed, a bit timidly, holding the fifty Gil the man had given me tightly in my hand. I looked down at the books on the floor, reading the covers. "I've read the most of these," I said quietly, eyes glancing over the familiar titles.

    "Oh, really? So you like to read too, huh?"

    I nodded yes and added, "but I haven't read in a long time. No since I've been on the street."

    "Well that sucks," Bryatt was looking around the floor for something. "Books are the best thing for getting your mind off life." He continued his search in silence for a moment. "I bet I have something here you haven't read...."

    My eyes stopped on an unfamiliar volume, and I stooped to pick it up, my eyes widening in shock at the cover.

    There were two guys.

    They were kissing.

    I couldn't take my eyes off it.

    "Oh, so you found me out." He laughed. "Bet your scared now, huh?"

    "What's this about?" I couldn't restrain myself from opening the book.

    Bryatt was silent a moment, out of shock I think. He came to my side and closed the book gently. He turned to look at me and I in turn turned back to look at him, my eyes wide with the only innocence I still possessed. "Like boys?"

    I was lost in his eyes a moment, before I turned away, blushing again. "I...I don't really know... I never thought about it before..." Not until you walked into my life.

    "Hmn." A smile crossed his lips. "Then maybe you better read this. It'll teach you a thing or two."

    I couldn't *wait* to read it. I didn't know much about sex at all, but I was hungry to learn. "Ah... All right."

    He took it from me and tossed it on the bed. "Great. But right now, we have to buy you some new clothes."

    I told him, "it's been a long time I've gotten new clothes."

    Bryatt put a hand on my shoulder. "Well, Tseng, everything changes eventually."

    "This is about 50 Gil worth," he decided once he had a stack. Handing it to me, he instructed. "Go try it on. And come out once you're dressed. I want to see how you look."

    I just nodded, and went in the dressing room. Placing the clothes down on the bench, I turned and faced my own reflection in the mirror.

    It had been a long time since I had looked at myself, black eyes contrasting with pale skin. My black hair was short, mostly thanks to Aeris' mother, who always was kind enough to cut it for me. I looked a bit older than my fourteen almost fifteen years. I could probably pass for seventeen if I had to.

    My mind drifted to the older boy waiting for me to dress outside. Bryatt was beautiful, and I couldn't help being attracted to him. I had never given a thought to sexuality before, mostly because I had been too concerned with just staying alive. But as soon as he walked into the room, I remember the way I felt and again my body tingled. I knew men were supposed to like girls, so why were thoughts of another guy making me weak in the knees? I remembered the book Bryatt had in the room and wondered if he liked guys too...

    "Tseng, you changing?"

    I jumped. "Uh, yes!" I called, a bit startled. I reached for the clothes and dressed quietly in some jeans and a black polo shirt, smiling at my reflection. Bryatt had picked me clothes just like his.

    Timidly I pulled the curtain back. He was leaning against the opposite wall, smiling as he always was. "Well...?" I felt another blush creep up on my cheeks as he looked at me, and I quickly shifted my eyes to the floor.

    "Hmm..." He came over to me. "Turn around, Tseng."

    I did, and looked straight ahead, looking at both of us in the mirror. He was behind me, straightening my shirt out. His fingers brushed my skin through the fabric and it was as if an electric shock passed through my body. A small cry escaped my lips, and I leaned back into him. "Bryatt..."

    He gripped my shoulders, and I felt his lips by my ears. "Yes?"

    My knees were shaking, but I somehow managed my question, rather nervously. "Do you...um...like boys?"

    "If I said yes, would that scare you?"

    "N-no..." I got the words out, despite my shaking voice.

    "I thought it would be obvious when you saw that book," he commented, still whispering in my ear.

    I moaned softly, reveling in the feeling of his breath on me. "I'm so naive..."

    He released me then, much to my disappointment. "Better try the rest of the clothes on. Then we can go back and I can show you around the Don's."

    With a nod, I went back in and quickly drew the curtain, trying to catch my breath. I had heard the term 'gay' used before, referring to people attracted to same sex as themselves.

    Oh my god... I thought, turning back to my reflection in the mirror. That's me.

    That night, alone in the room, I slipped into my new boxer shorts, still amazed at how I had a roof over my head. The concept was so foreign to me. I finally escaped. With a smile I stepped into bed, picking up the book from before. I stared at the cover another moment, and then opened it, beginning to read a little nervously.

    I was about twenty pages into it, when I had to put it down. I crossed my legs, and wondered how written words could make me pant like this. Maybe I was in over my head.

    I loved it.

    Just before I could pick it up again, Bryatt entered, making me jump a mile.

    "Oh, Bryatt!" the book flew out of my hands and landed closed on the floor.

    He grinned at me and stripped down to his own boxers. "Sorry to scare you. It's good reading, huh?"

    I was still panting. "It's not like anything I've ever read."

    Bryatt picked it up and handed it to me, climbing into bed besides me. "Like it?"

    I nodded vigorously, taking the book back. "Yeah." I blushed, looking away from him as I opened it. "This is all happening so fast..."

    He chuckled as he gestured to my crossed legs. "Are we discovering something we didn't know we had?"

    I felt myself blush further. "Well, I...I never knew about all this stuff before."

    Bryatt leaned back against the pillows. "Everyone has to learn about it sometime."

    My eyes wandered from the book to *him* and back again, still blushing. There was a question I was dying to ask him, but I held my tongue.

    It didn't matter. He noticed my wandering eyes and grinned at me, blue eyes sparkling. "What is it? Something on your mind?"

    I blushed further, hanging my head. "I was just wondering... Is kissing really as nice as it says in the book?"

    "Ooh..." he sighed, holding his hands on his lap. "Yes. It's a very nice feeling."

    "...Have you kissed a lot of people?" I couldn't help asking, finally getting the courage to look at him.

    His eyes closed. "Not a lot, but a good amount."

    Placing the book aside, I leaned closer to him, whispering his name softly.

    Light blue eyes flickered open and focused on me. "Yes?"

    "Will you.... Will you kiss me?" I requested softly, face red with embarrassment.

    He seemed surprised, and his eyes widened. "Tseng... You hardly know me."

    Putting a hand on his arm my eyes pleaded with him. "Please, Bryatt. Kiss me. I want to feel what it's like... If it's like in the book."

    "Hmn." He said nothing as he gently took my face in his hands, leaning in towards me. Then he was still as he searched my eyes. "Are you sure?"

    "Yes," I begged, shutting my eyes, and bending my head back, ready to receive his kiss. "Please."

    And he did. I felt his lips touch mine, tentatively at first, and then he took them in his. Another electric like shock passed through my body and I put my arms around him, whimpering softly as my mouth opened, hungry for the feel of his tongue in my mouth.

    I got my wish as his tongue slipped past mine. Mine met his tentatively at first, a bit scared at such intimate contact, but then I returned the gesture, stroking my tongue against his. Soft moans escaped my throat as pure passion flowed through my veins. It was just like in the book, if not better.

    Bryatt parted our lips gently, my face still gently cupped in his hands.

    I kept my eyes closed, panting softly as my blood throbbed in my veins.

    "Did you enjoy that?" he asked softly.

    I moaned with a slight nod.

    For a moment he was quiet. "Do you want me to kiss you again?"

    I nodded, leaning towards him. Our mouths fused together and I felt his arms go around me, brushing my heated skin. I moaned loudly, pressing up against him. Everything was moving so quickly, but I had never felt so good in my life.  The feelings were overwhelming me, and there were more than I could process at once. All I knew was that this felt right, and I knew I had lived too long without being touched. Now I wanted as much as I could take all at once. I wrapped my hands around his neck and kissed him insistently, not wanting the kiss to end.

    He drew away from me eventually, keeping our faces close together. I trembled as I felt his breath on my skin. "This is all happening so fast... I don't believe it..."

    "Again... Bryatt..." I begged him, eyes still shut. "Kiss me again."

    "Oh, gladly." He leaned in to take my lips once, fingers sliding over my back.

    It was crazy. I was in way too deep. We kept up our sweet kisses until we grew too exhausted and fell asleep in one another's arms.

    And for the first time in far too long, I felt alive again.