I need to know that the harbors are bound by safety and caring before any other physicality begins. Otherwise I am not interested.

He said that he didn't care if I took a picture because he was already a model. So I took a picture of who he is.

When I was a young man these emo needs were at the end of my list of self-inflicted physical ransoms. I gave my body away freely and willingly. I abandoned myself in the conquest of satisfying my sexuality; to prove myself to all of femininity and to appear strong to other males that I believed were my friends. But eventually all vapidity became dangerous. The diseases were for sure a worry. But people taking my intimacy for granted or for their needs while disregarding mine now feel just as threatening as herpes or HIV.

So now instead of dominating the physical aspects of the relationships that I was rambling through I demand emotional content first. I demand a lack of anonymity that sitting listening to stories doesn’t expose. Stories are all fiction that we tell ourselves to tell everyone else.

It leaves me alone a lot. And there is nothing wrong with that now. I can do all of the things that before I thought I needed some company to enjoy. I can even go to movies by myself. Walks are just as satisfying solo even though now I have a mammal in tow.

But my demands certainly have kept me safe of vampires, zombies and neg-hitters.