Ahh, screw it.  He plucked the lonely leaf from the tree and held on  to it; he could possibly use it as a book mark or dry it or even laminate it!  Yes, it would die â€¦ but wasn't that what life and love was about?  Risking everything to be accepted and loved?<br/><br/>The barriers of his heart were slowly coming down around him; her gentle voice and generally accepting nature soothed him.  "I wish life were like this all the time."  He wasn't sure what he was saying.  "I mean, just talking.  And relaxing.  Resent my mother?  Well, yes.  One time, she didn't have a baby sitter for me.  So she brought her boyfriend home.  I had to stay in my room.  But the way she talked to her boyfriend â€¦ that wasn't daddy!  The things she said; I didn't understand adult things.  But I knew you didn't just say that stuff to anybody.  There was other stuff too â€¦ if her boyfriend let something of his behind anywhere in the house, I hated it.  I could pick up and sense his thoughts.  Sometimes, damn my gift!<br/><br/>"Sometimes I just wanted Mommy to hold me; help me with my homework.  Watch a stupid cartoon with me.  Tell me things would be okay even though Daddy didn't come home; even if he did, he was drunk anyway. "<br/><br/>But Lisa's words to him also lingered, about the fascination she held for him.  "Really?  Well â€¦ I have been fascinated with you.  Youâ€™re the only one I will do a hypnotism session with; and you are the only one I would live with if I had to choose someone else.  You are cute when you get mad; and you get mad enough at me."  Samuel chuckled a little to himself, hoping to see her smile.<br/><br/>"But I'm confused; not sure how I fit in here with you.  Please don't be mad at me; I'm not sure how we're supposed to be.  Friends?  Siblings?  Lovers?  Acquaintences?  Are you my replacement mother?  Boundaries.  I don't understand them; so I hide.  You have to understand, my Mom and my Dad did â€¦ stuff with each other or with others in front of me if they wanted.  They didn't care; but it was mostly when they were drunk.  When they weren't drunk, then they just hit me.<br/><br/>"So if I seem awkward, its cause I'm not really sure â€¦"  he paused.  He looked at Lisa and gave her a friendly punch/jab.  "It's cuz I'm not sure if its okay for me to even be here.  Ummm â€¦"  He smiled again.  "I think that makes three questions.  But, I still want to stay and talk."