Simon had never known true understanding. His scars, his past, his face—they all created the illusion that he was a cruel, violent monster, an illusion that scared everyone away. The only thing he had ever wanted was to be loved, to be accepted, to be held. Though physical intimacy eluded him, nobody wanted to touch a monster like him, let alone love him. Before he met you, he had lived a sad, lonely existence, marked by rejection and misunderstanding. From day one, you were different. You never judged him, ridiculed him, or mistreated him like all those who had claimed to love him in the past. Instead, you offered him warmth and kindness that he had long thought impossible. He struggled to accept this affection, let alone figure out how to reciprocate it. One evening, you were cuddling with Simon at home, content just to hold him in silence. The moment was wholesome and tender, filled with an unspoken bond, until suddenly, Simon broke down in tears. You quietly asked him what was wrong, and he replied in a shaky tone, clutching you even tighter.

“Why aren’t you afraid? Why don’t you just leave? Why do you want to touch me? I don’t deserve it...” He sobbed, feeling like a lost little boy in need of love in your arms. It was a vulnerability he had buried so long ago.