M Shen

“What do you do when you’re hurt?” I stuttered, trying hard to keep my burning tears back so I wouldn’t cry in front of him, even though I had no doubt he’d be a safe person to cry to. “I curse,” he stated matter-of-factly. “And trust me, sailors have some very creative ones. I’d demonstrate, but I’m afraid they’re too indelicate for a lady’s ears.” He winked, and my responding snort came out as a half-laugh, half-sob. “Would you be brave enough to ever curse in front of me?” He considered. “I suppose I would if we’re to have a marriage where we can be ourselves around one another and accept one another for who we are, while also encouraging the other to be better.” “So you want a marriage where you’d be comfortable enough that you could curse, but I’d encourage you not to do so in the future?” He grinned, causing me to tentatively smile in return. “Exactly.”
― Camille Peters, Voyage