Once upon a time, there were two children.
Each had an Affection Park inside them. The parks are full of rides, lights, music, and the promise of joy.
Child One
In their park, the gates opened unpredictably.
Some days, they were welcomed in with warm hugs and laughter – the rides spinning, the lights twinkling.
Other days, without warning, the gates close tight, and shut them out . They never knew when or why, so they learned to stand close to the entrance, eyes fixed on the hinges, ready to run any moment when the gates opened.
They carried that watchfulness everywhere.
This child grew into the anxious partner – always eager to enter, afraid of missing a moment, desperately needing closeness to feel safe.
Child Two
In their park, the gates were different. Whenever they tried to invite someone in, the visitor seemed distracted, busy, or uninterested. Sometimes they left without even stepping inside.
After a while, the child stopped trying. They locked the gates to keep the park safe and learned to enjoy the rides alone. They enjoyed their own company and learned to be on their own. They carried that caution everywhere.
This child grew into the avoidant partner – opening the gates only in small moments, protecting their park from being hurt again.
Now, as adults, they found each other.
One longs to be let in. The other worries that too much company might harm what they’ve protected for so long. But here’s the truth neither learned in childhood:
- Parks are meant to be shared.
- Gates can have regular opening hours.
- Rides are better when you enjoy them together.
The anxious partner can learn to wait without fear. The avoidant partner can learn that opening the gates won’t break the park, it might even make it more alive.
And slowly, they can build a new Affection Park map together. One with clear hours, safe rides, and a promise:This place is ours now. And no one’s leaving.
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