At Home With Erin (Patreon)

It was late in the day on that Spring day in 2009, and Erin messaged me that she was bored. She ended up stopping by, removing her clothes, and hanging out on my bed, discussing the trials and tribulations of her 20 year old life. 

Erin was a tech at the local theater, not a model or anyone known for her outward appearance. She dressed like a tomboy, with jeans and multiple shirts layered down to restrain her ample chest, which she was tired of having to hear comments about. We had connected via mutual friends and she was open-minded about nudity and being comfortable in her own skin, uttering that magic phrase "Can I take my top off?" The answer to that is always "yes."

Erin isn't warm and cuddly. She isn't sweet and endearing. She's tough, confident, strong, and defiant. She's opinionated and disagreeable. She has little tolerance for the people she loves, which means even less tolerance for you or I. But she'll also give you the benefit of the doubt. She'll keep her options open, she'll offer you a chance. 

We hardly talk anymore, but we were close  friends for many years and created work that we were both quite proud of. Her strength and attitude helped remind me that I didn't always have to be the nice guy, though her moody harshness reminded me I didn't always have to be nice to her, either.

I still miss her from time to time, and I'm sure our paths will meet again eventually. This world is too small to think otherwise.

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Find all of my work, including shots of Erin from this period, at the $25 Level.