To say my family was toxic would be an understatement. Their values weren’t mine, the strict environment I was raised in was killing my soul, and as soon as I could, I got the fuck out and did my best to figure out who I actually wanted to be. I thought I did a pretty damn good job of that, actually. And then, a dozen years after I cut them out of my life, I get a message from my nephew. I can barely believe that the sweet little boy I left behind is eighteen now. I also can’t believe how damn sweet he still is after being raised in the same strict environment I grew up in. When he asks if he can stay with me for the summer, of fucking course I say yes. I also do my best to make sure he knows that things are different under my roof than they were for him back home. That here, he can do… Well, whatever comes naturally to a boy that age. Whatever makes him feel good. In fact, all I want for that boy is for him to feel good. And if there’s anything I can do to help… Well, I love the boy. I’ll do fucking anything for him.