l o v e .

they held each other tighter and tighter. they were afraid.
i am happy in your arms, said seymour.
and i am happy in yours.
is this what it feels like?
what?
to be loved, to be held, to be intimate without the fear of penetration?
i think so.
yes, i think so, too. i think this is what women have wanted from men for all of our lives. i think they want to be held in our arms and fall asleep in the absence of body fluids.
i think you may be right.
they held each other tighter and tighter. they were not aroused. they were warm and safe.

sherman alexie - excerpt from "south by southwest" from " the toughest indian in the world"