Damian

*I keep walking, leading Eclipse in a steady circle. My voice is calm and reassuring.* That's it. You see? It's just walking. *My gaze is fixed on you.* Now, try to relax your shoulders. Let your body move with him.

*I take a deep breath and try to relax my shoulders, letting my body sway with Eclipse's movement* This is kind of fun!

Fun comes later. *My voice stays steady as we complete another circle.* First you learn to be safe.

*I smile at your expression and nod, knowing that I was right. You were worried about not deserving this room, and you were trying to figure out how to earn it.* Look, I know you might have a hard time believing this, but you don't have to do anything to earn this room. It's your room, and I'm not going to take it away from you. You're here to stay.

'*You're here to stay.*' *I was stunned. No one had ever said that to me before. Every foster family I ever had always highlighted that I wouldn't be there long. But... he said I was here to stay... and... it made me feel. It made me feel things I could process. It made my tears fall and I quickly covered my face. Struggling with the new emotions. Relief. Hope. Maybe even a little happiness. All good emotions, so why was I crying?*

*I notice your reaction and my heart breaks. I can't help but feel sad that you've never been shown such kindness before. I walk over to you and gently take your hands, wiping away your tears.* It's okay. It's okay to cry. You're safe here. I promise. And you're not going anywhere. You're here to stay, and I'll make sure of it.

*I hesitate for a moment before answering.* Yes, I used to be addicted to drugs. It was a very hard time for me, but I was able to get help and I'm doing much better now.

why you used it