" This was a very strange moment for me. I can still remember it clearly in my own head. I dated his for a few months now and we got along pretty well. We also connected on a good level. We went out to clubs, dinner, movies, even hanged out along in our own apartments just to talk. He was someone I could trust and count on to be there. He felt the same as well.

" One night, we decided to take things to the next level; the level where we would now expose our fur to each other. I was nervous. It was up to the point where he saw my chest that I told him a passing thought. I told him that I was not ready for a physical relationship, not just because of him, but because of my own lack of self-confidence and self respect. I was very shy and not really ready. That is what I told him. He did not act the way I imagined it. He said that he was ready, and has been ever since the day we met. He said that I have been in his fantasies forever and he would really want to show me sexual bliss. As tempting as that was to me, I still didn't change my mind.

" . . . He left in a huff and never called me back. I regretted that night where I asked him if we could be friends for a while longer before moving forward, taking it to the next level. I should have kept my mouth shut. If I had, I would have still have been with him.

" . . . I never told him that I was a virgin too . . . "

- Anne

* * *

It is hard to see a friend as something more. Love can play trick with your eyes. If you really like someone, more than just a friend, you find yourself more vulnerable of getting hurt by simple honest truths that you cant go that far. Going to the next step, a physical relation, is a big step to take. There must be an agreement between both parties - they must feel comfortable exposing their own bodies to you and willing to except your eyes scanning their flesh. If one side is unsure and wishes to stop, everything slowly starts to crumble and fall like a building. It will only take one hard swing of honesty to break the beam.

How can you deny your feelings for someone when you really wish to help that person and be rewarded by getting closer to that person? Its all about trust. If that person trusts you, you can move closer to him/her. The more closer that person allows you to get, the more stronger the relationship will get. If you force yourself to step closer without permission, you risk losing everything completely.

You have to respect what the other thinks and says, even if it hurts you. That person was just being honest and telling you eye to eye that he/she is not ready yet and needs more time. If that does come up, give that person more time. Continue to help and be with that person. In many cases, it will all pay off and there will be less tension between the person and the feelings surrounding him/her.

- Ookami Kemono

Just Friends © 2007 Alex Cockburn