Adulthood Rites (Xenogenesis, #2)

by Octavia E. Butler

He came to perceive himself as himself—individual, defined, separate from all the touches and smells, all the tastes, sights, and sounds that came to him. He was Akin.

He was himself, and he was those others. He learned quickly to distinguish between

Lilith Mother had shown him a print image of that one, and he had scanned it with all his senses: Joseph Father.