I am a seal today. I love the feel of the sun on my wet grey back, the air cool on my head, but most of all his hand on my neck. He loves me right now, he tells me. You are wonderful, he says, beautiful creature, what a soul you must have! His hand is rough and soft at once, so wholly human.
I fell in love again today, for the thousandth time. What else can I do, he inspires that and more. I want to love him, hold him, be him. I sound so pitiful but I don't want pity, never that. And he never pities me, beautiful one that he is, he only loves me, and says I am wonderful.
He looks at me sometimes with eyes of wonder, and I know in two wholes of my mind that he is only amazed at his gift, it is not to do with me, he loves that he can communicate with animals and so he loves me, and I know that he is amazed at me, loves me above all else, cares for his gift only because he can talk with me. I love him for it, for both of them and either one.
If he was the most selfish creature in the world… I cannot even think it, because it is truly impossible. He is love, pure and complete, and he is my love. My love. I think of it as I slip into the waters. I would stay on land forever to be with him, even die, but it wouldn't be dying, because the only time I am alive is when I can see him. But I have to return, need to flee from his embrace to change to myself and think of him more, dream of what I have just a small way away.
He leaves with good cheer, mouth turning up in the sun-smile at me, eyes lingering for a moment, and I stare at him from across the water, wishing something that I cannot name.
But I have him already, I don't need to wish. He comes every day, loves me as each creature, adores me wholly but for when he has to go back to his city, has to return because he is human. Only because he is human.
For that, I love him. For that, I worship him.
And for that, I still long for him.