My First Date

When I first went on a date, I had a brief moment of hope that life might be kind to me. To be brave, I created a persona that appeared stronger and bolder than my true self. I practiced smiling in mirrors, and I attempted to figure out how to keep my body still and my mind calm while I sat on a date.

The Date Went Terribly, As Things Often Do When I Hope. Words Fell Out Wrong. Silence Grew Heavy And Sat Between Us Like A Third Person Who Refused To Leave. I Kept Thinking I Was Doing Everything Incorrectly—Holding My Cup Too Tight, Laughing A Second Too Late, Caring Too Much.

Outwardly the world was unaffected and oblivious to what I was experiencing. The animals in the park were observing without any hint of a judgmental nature. Birds flew above my head without any awareness of how distorted my date had become. Candles were burning patiently as though waiting for me to understand a lesson I had no idea existed.

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