Unsteady

Roux had sworn off dating. The bad experiences had overtaken her life. She’d had nothing but bad experiences. Despite living in a city where half the population was LGBTQ+ in some way. She’d been an openly Pansexual Woman the majority of her adult life. She’d dated anyone she had an interest in. Or in the least went on dates with anyone that was interested in her. The same had gone for the more intimate of those moments. She’d sworn that aspect of her life off as well. It just wasn’t worth it to have any aspect of a romantic life.

She’d been led on, ghosted, let down and everything in between when she had been in the dating scene. People who’d ultimately wanted a one night stand and nothing more than that. People who’d ghosted her after their shared enjoyment. Not even a text back. They’d either go on a date or hook up, text back and forth to “meet up again” before they’d ghost her. It seemed like they had no common decency to give any kind of reason to not see her anymore. From her perspective anyway.

Piper changed everything. She’d been the one Roux had taken a chance on. She’d seen just how different Piper was compared to everyone else she’d dated or hooked up with. They had similar experiences when in the dating scene. People who’d done the same or similar things toward them. Piper had nonchalantly shared her stories that seemed eerily similar to what Roux experienced. She’d given up on everything romantic as well. Something about Roux’s dating profile had resonated with her. It was the leap of faith that’d brought them together.

It was an unsteady and unfamiliar territory for Roux. They’d begun “officially” dating after a few months. They’d realized they were soulmates. Destined for each other. A pair that was in it for the long haul. Two souls that understood each other and their respective pasts.Two souls that had fallen in love with each other. They didn’t see each other dating anyone else. They didn’t need a piece of paper legally binding them together to show their love for each other. They showed it every day by openly loving each other.

Piper had done a show and tell of loving Roux as herself. The broken, unfiltered, traumatized person she’d been. Piper showed her love to Roux far more than she’d ever said to Roux. She’d helped Roux move through the traumatized parts of herself. Through the brokenness she’d so often experienced. Her love went deeper than Roux ever realized or understood. A love she’d never thought possible.

Roux had found love. Finally. Piper was in it for the long haul. Roux. Had realized that early on. When she stuck around through everything. When Piper helped her through everything that everyone else was too unsteady to help her through. When everyone else walked away. Piper had gone toward her to help instead. Something Roux was forever thankful for. Something Roux cherished far more than Piper or anyone else knew.