Seas of love

In the Northern seas, there lies a large and isolated island, a place where the inhabitants dive deep into the ocean of love, exploring its depths with as much integrity as they can muster. All are in harmony, like synchronized swimmers in a vast, endless sea, digging deep to unearth the pearls of unconditional care. Yet, the waters of romantic love are treacherous, filled with hidden reefs and stormy skies.
Akamu was a forty-something sailor adrift in the sea of life, never having anchored in the harbor of marriage. His pattern was to feel trapped, like a ship caught in a whirlpool, and sail away whenever he felt the pressure of commitment. He was fortunate enough to find Akamai, a lighthouse in his stormy seas, who allowed his momentary departures to seek refuge with other women for a night or two. Predictably, he would return to her shores, refreshed and with no memory of the tempests that had driven him away. However, after more than a year of this, they both cared enough to chart a course through the troubled waters of his behavior and her boundless patience.
Akamai, a seasoned navigator of love, had two children from a previous marriage, and her heart had expanded like a vast ocean, capable of holding anything. She did not want to be the anchor that caused him to feel pressure, yet she was secure enough to voice her needs. Akamu’s pattern became as clear as a starry night sky: whenever he felt close to a woman, he would interpret her needs as a threatening storm, feel inadequate, shut down emotionally, and sail away. With his Akamai, he would drift away for just the weekend, but in the past, he had vanished into the horizon without a word, leaving no trace behind.
He innocently believed he needed a new navigational chart to steer through the seas of pressure and threat. But something he had never, ever done was to actually feel the weight of his inadequacy. With Akamai’s guidance, he felt the tension in his chest like a storm cloud surrounded by the clear blue sky of space. Immediately, he was swept into a current of memories, being chastised and punished for his inability to meet his parents' expectations, things he simply could not do. Inadequacy was a maelstrom of frustration and failure, and he allowed himself to feel, transcend, and integrate these emotions.
Akamai thought him quite brave to sail these uncharted waters so easily, and her love grew for his being so real and vulnerable. This was entirely new for him, but he cared enough to stay with his experience. As a result, he felt even more connected with both himself and his Akamai. Akamu settled more peacefully, his heart expanding like a calm sea under a clear sky.
Akamai also realized that she was not guilty of anything other than sharing herself, and dear Akamu told her so. She longed to stay secure and supported in her love relationship. Beautifully, her dream came true, and so did his.