We sit facing one another, my knees in between his, kissing occasionally and speaking gently he says, "Would you be mad if I fell in love with you?" "No," I say and kiss the tip of his nose. "Why, do you think you will?" He puts his hand to my cheek and looks downward, "I partially am already." I kiss him and smile softly. We've known each other for years now, but never really got close. His music taste matches mine perfectly and we both have broken pasts. We adventured around the river. I'm doing my best to show him you don't have to be wasted to have fun. We carved pumpkins the day before with two of my friends. He tells me he never thought he could be so happy. I never thought I could be either. Not this soon, and I never expected it to be with him. Lying in his bed, half clothed, we speak about the dark parts of our pasts. The Decemberists are quietly playing through his speakers. I tell him about my mania, and how it just ended a few days ago. Then we talk about my disease and I tell him about how I was once terribly depressed, how I have been a lot of my life. He asks me if I've ever tried to end it and I tell him I have, but I failed. He wraps his arms around mine and pulls me close to him. "I am very thankful you didn't succeed." Then he teases me and I tease him back. I love the way he shows his affection towards me and how comfortable I am with him. I don't feel embarrassed about my past since his has been similar. His father is an alcoholic and his mother is a stripper who lives far away. She can't enter our state due to warrants. He has messed up his education with drugs and will have attend school an extra year. He asks me about Chicago and if we could work it out. "I don't see why not if we are still happy." I say and am almost surprised I feel this way. He tells me he has never let someone in like this. He keeps himself closed off, acting silly and never letting people know how he feels. He says it is nice to let go and to open up. I giggle and tell him about the irony of it since my name is based off of 'Katherine' which is based off the Greek word for catharsis. He smiles at me and kisses me, teasing me for my love of etymology. I close my eyes and feel the rhythm of his breathing. I fall asleep soundly for the first time in a long time. Quote of the Day: “Our best built certainties are but sand-houses and subject to damage from any wind of doubt that blows” --Mark Twain