Wild caught

She was like wild caught salmon, brightly colored and roaming about. She explored the world as if everything was brand new, never settling into one place for too long. Her curiosity led her to the answers she sought, or at least to more questions she tirelessly asked. She yearned for a home, which was a sacrifice she made in order to remain a free spirit. In a world where she was used to being captured and taken advantage of for her innocent oblivion, he took her by surprise. She met someone who was a home. She always thought home was a place. But here he was, floundering about, for her entertainment. He loved her without imprisoning her. She asked what the catch was, and he smiled gently, knowing she would never be anyone’s except herself. She thought his love was in exchange for her autonomy. She demanded to know, what of hers she had to lose, to earn the right to gain something of his. She didn’t realize he gave it without expectation of anything in return. “What’s the catch?” she asked again. “You’re the catch,” he said, and swam away. He gave her time to think about this and later returned. He merely offered his presence, because he could see her wheels were still turning. They coexisted in the silence of the sea. They shared the same space and energetic frequency. They didn’t need words to express what crossed their minds. She realized she belonged with him without belonging to him. She gave him a smile from a few feet away once she processed what this all meant. It is here where she found liberation and trust. She could still be herself, but no longer alone. She moved closer and gave him a strong embrace. They tightly held onto each other until it felt right to release their grip. He caught her while simultaneously letting her go.