Trust

The Skype phone called shortly after Johanna did her makeup and changed her house clothes into a colorful shirt and a pair of jeans even though Josh would not be able to see it. The image with Josh appeared on the screen. He was wearing a black shirt as usual and a pair of black pants.

"Hey, hon, how are you?" "I am fine, happy to see you. How about you?" "I am okay. Could have slept better." he yawned. "Oooh, you made your bed. You're tidy," Johanna teased him and saw the background behind him. "Yeah, I try to get used to becoming a little bit tidier. Let's see if it lasts," Josh replied smiling. "What's that shirt and the message on it about?"

"Oh, in high school the psychologist of the school I went to, tried to create a support group for pupils, who were bullied or had any other issues that needed counseling. Hence the message "Free your mind". Unfortunately the project never took off and was abandoned." Josh looked at the fist on her colorful shirt. It was surrounded by a surreal light. Underneath the words "Free your mind" were scribbled. Josh loudly said after reading the words on her shirt: "Free your mind with boobs." Johanna laughed out loud: "If you say so. Everyone needs something to free their mind with."

She stared at the screen and his smile that could light up the whole room and wished to be next to him to feel his scent and the touch of his soft skin. "Hug," she opened her arms demonstratively and grinned bittersweet. "Hug," he softly replied.

"What is that red box you just had in your hand and where do you have it from?" he asked her. "Oh, that's just a box with a gift from my uncle for the 1st March, also known as Martisor." "Oh, I thought you had it from another guy." he awkwardly smiled. Johanna hit the table with her fingers angrily but calmly replied: "I'm not seeing anyone. How about you, Josh?" "I am not seeing anyone either," he replied smiling. "But you do know that if we wanted we could like you don't see what or who I do anything herewith." "Indeed. So do you."

An awkward silence appeared between them, despite both of them smiling. "What have you been doing lately now that the exams have passed?" "I have been going to the movies and salsa. How about you?" "Been starting to watch "The big bang theory" just like you suggested. The show is good. You were right. How's salsa?" Johanna asked, hoping no girl would set her eyes on him there that might lead to something else. "It's been nice. I've been making some progress and improving my dance skills there. I've made some friends there too." Johanna listened silently. "But we're just friends, that's it. Don't jump to any conclusions."

Johanna calmly replied: "If you say so, I believe you." Josh sighed: "I was never that popular with girls. Usually, I am good just to be the best friend on whose shoulders ladies cry on, but they don't find sexually attractive or desirable for a relationship." Johanna felt for a second sad for him, then rubbed her chin lost in thoughts. "What do you mean?" "Women don't exactly find me attractive," he said almost imperceptibly and stared to the ground and became silent as he avoided looking to the webcam and his facial expression turned sad.

"What's wrong?" she asked him worried. "I did not always have the best experiences with women." Johanna imagined what could have happened to him, but decided to directly ask him instead of creating movies inside her head. "What experiences? I am curious!" "Countless." he laughed bitterly..." Johanna tried to see him as unattractive, but couldn't. "I try to not see the good and the beautiful in you, but I can't. I can't see you as unattractive. What was it about? Could you please give me more details?" Josh sighed. "If you feel uncomfortable, you don't have to tell me." "Well, it was a female classmate. She was beautiful and asked me out. I was enthusiastic about her and said yes, not having one negative thought about her or what could happen. We arrived at the cinema. At some point, if I remember correctly, I think it was the middle of the movie she started making out with me and she became physical with me and let me touch her boobs and she also touched my intimate parts. After the movie ended I asked her the same day if she wanted to go out again. She declined, telling me that what happened at the cinema was just an experiment and while it was nice for the moment she could never see herself in a relationship with me. We never talked again since." "Oh, Josh, I am so sorry. She sounds like a sucky person. How did you feel afterward?' "I felt used and dirty. However, with you, I don't feel that way. I feel happy and at peace around you."

"What a shitty piece of a human being," Johanna replied annoyed regarding that girl. "But I am glad you feel that way about me. I am glad you feel happy and comfortable around me." She silently smiled at the screen and a warm, fuzzy feeling traveled through her body. "Meh, people are people. There are not many trustworthy out there. That's when you find someone trustworthy you got to keep them in your life."

"I love you", he said and she replied in an emotional tone while leaning her head against her hand: "I love you too!"

It's easy to love the good parts of a person. However people are like onions: you need to peel their layers and only by getting to know their deepest fears and things they are ashamed of and accepting them, can you create a bond. However, you still need to see that person's overall picture and their shadow self. By touching it you'll grow closer. Seeing beside what everyone else sees is vision and power.