dating
All about dating. First dates, three years into a relationship, Tinder, and more.
Moscato to Merlot
The air was warm outside, despite the cool chill of the breeze that passed through occasionally. Low music, a symphony of Rimsky-Korsakov, played over a small speaker. The candles on the round table seemed to dance with the tune and I could only watch in fascination. Not even the faery lights strung up along the window curtains were enough to pull my eyes away.
By Cheyenne Lance6 years ago in Humans
Shopping For Wine
Dee slammed the door to her condo in frustration. She had let herself be talked into yet another blind date. This time it was someone that her best friend Jenny's husband John thought she would be great with. Dee had reluctantly told Jenny that her husband could give his friend Kyle her number. When Kyle called he suggested they meet at a pub near her shop on Church Street. She couldn't leave the shop until 8 and he said that was perfect. She arrived at the pub to find him already there drinking with his teammates to celebrate their win in the softball game they had just finished. He joined her at a table, sweaty, still in his uniform and continued to engage with his friends while he chatted with her. And then he asked if she wanted to go back to his apartment. They'd spent half an hour together and he asked her back to his apartment. What in the world made Jenny think this was someone she'd be interested in? She called her and Jenny answered saying, "Dee I thought you were meeting Kyle after you closed tonight."
By Susan Mills6 years ago in Humans
Love
Pressure is rising. Clouded skies mixing in with the teardrops from the heavens got me pondering on if this date will go smooth or if it will end in one last phone call and another fallen tear. Time is winding down as I put my tie through the last loop looking in the mirror at someone who is nervous but ecstatic at the same time. Mmmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm, the phone began to vibrate with a red heart and sunshine emoji. “Hello,” Michelle says, “I was checking in and calling to let you know that I am on my way. I can not wait to see you.” As she is talking the nerves in my body begin to decrease and I start to feel more at ease. I inform her that I can not wait to see her as well and that I am headed out the door right after I put my shoes on.
By Carnelious Gill 6 years ago in Humans
Wandering Giants
The kiss of the golden flame caressed her moon-bathed silhouette, her skin aglow with the warmth of the hearth. Her dance was one to enchant many, but there lay a hidden eye in the shadows of the adjacent wood. James was kept cool by the canopies, but his skin was alight with the same kiss that Faryn now shimmered in. They both shared in the fire on that eclipsed eve, but it wouldn’t be for many moons that they would finally meet.
By Lucy Whitesell6 years ago in Humans
Too Many First Dates
Dating is hard. This is always true, but it can be even harder when you're part of the LGBTQ+ community. Trust me. I know from first hand experience. So many things can go wrong, and let's be honest, a lot of guys are just out for one thing. You know what I'm talking about. This is my story of trying to find love, and bear with me, because it's a doozy.
By Cody Dunnington6 years ago in Humans
Love
Pressure is rising. Clouded skies mixing in with the teardrops from the heavens got me pondering on if this date will go smooth or if it will end in one last phone call and another fallen tear. Time is winding down as I put my tie through the last loop looking in the mirror at someone who is nervous but ecstatic at the same time. Mmmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm, the phone began to vibrate with a red heart and sunshine emoji. “Hello,” Michelle says, “I was checking in and calling to let you know that I am on my way. I can not wait to see you.” As she is talking the nerves in my body begin to decrease and I start to feel more at ease. I inform her that I can not wait to see her as well and that I am headed out the door right after I put my shoes on.
By Carnelious Gill 6 years ago in Humans
Project Novid
Charlotte had preferred to stay in her warm, dry apartment, but tonight was special. Not only was it the wedding anniversary for her and her late husband Dwayne, who’d died 2 years prior from Covid, but it was also her first date with Nick - a close friend who had lost his wife 2 years ago to covid as well. Charlotte and Nick had met up countless times before the deaths of their spouses when they all used to spend time together...ball games, holiday parties, barbecues...
By Leah Johnson6 years ago in Humans
Merlot in Moody Lighting
The thing about first dates is that they’re almost always terrible. That’s harsh I know, but hear me out. Even if the person is interesting and you have a laugh, even if the restaurant has amazing food, on some level...it’s going to be terrible. I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but there’s just a raw vulnerability involved in a first date that both people are keenly aware of. And in the modern age of 2021, vulnerability is a tall order.
By Bianca Cardaci6 years ago in Humans
The Color of Wine and Music
Paul imagined the perfect color for the petals on the zinnias of the lavish garden on his coloring sheet. He stretched lean, angular fingers throughout the pile of rainbow markers searching for the quintessential grape. A tug from a stubby, short hand plucked it from his imagination and literally from his grasp. He didn't let go. She didn't either. “Oh, were you trying, hoping, dying, or wishing to use this color next? A final pluck using a determined thumb and forefinger, and it was her captive. He squirmed, “Yes. I was hoping to complete the floral garden reminiscent of my mother’s summer garden. A childhood memory.” “Well, she handed the marker to her opponent. You can use it. It's not the proper color I need after all. I'm searching for a more Azure blue like the clear skies of spring.” She dropped the marker into his hand as if it were a hot coal and immediately raced across the room. In the library's adult coloring class, there were two tables of people resembling a kaleidoscope of colors, aromas, cultures, and flavors. Yet, she stood out in the crowd. Even though people always thought she resembled their friends, relatives, and lovers. Paul remained motionless until she sat down at the table and joined in a conversation with two other people who sat across from her. She laughed as her coiled hair bounced to the beat of the jazz music lilting in the background. “This is so relaxing” a voice from across him bellowed. He jumped at the sound of the stranger's voice. He looked up and shook his head in agreement. Finally able to move one foot in front of the other, he carried his prized possession back to his seat. The scuffle of the chair scraping against the cement floor caused a few stares and frowns. He had broken the tranquility and peacefulness of the activity. Across the room, a smile formed at the corners of her full lips. In an instant, she looked down again at the task at hand her ‘Sky’ masterpiece. Suddenly she lost all concentration. Something unnerved her. Something made her edgy. She stared across the room watching his movements like a hawk. She watched as he held the marker striking gentle, circular motions across the coloring page. She wondered what he was coloring. Had he finished the garden? She felt the blue across the room. It was that vibrant. All this time, he continued to stroke against the page with a determined flourish. Occasionally, he would swipe the long black wayward strand from off his forehead. She had both her hands under her chin just staring now. Her coloring buddy called her name. She didn't know how many times until she felt a kick under the table. Oh, ow! What! Why are you kicking me? She whispered back at her, “Shh! your eyes are full of him. Your mouth is drooling. Behave. Maybe you should try to color something. It is an adult coloring class after all. Faith, color something! I invited you so that you could release all that stress bottled up inside of you.” “Hey, it's my business how I choose to color. I color on my terms but thank you for the invite. It's not like it's a private country club… it's a public library Jackie so anybody can attend.” Faith pushed out of her chair soliciting frowns from the zoned-out crowd and scuffled up to the art project display table. She tapped her finger to her nose. Maybe I need a different picture. She glanced over the uncolored pictures of animals, flowers, shapes, and shook her head. “Yes, it isn't working maybe someday, but not today. I need something more to relieve my stress. I need to relax.” She let go and listened to the rhythm of the jazz music. She wrapped her arms around her body and swayed to the lilting melody. I like this music too. It's just like the blue I'm searching for. A quiet movement behind her forced her to turn around. She found him smiling at her. “You have a blue nose”, he chuckled. She swiped the blue marker off the table and dotted at the tip of his nose. “And so do you.” He looked at her quizzically and then reached for her hands placing her head gently on his shoulder. They moved to the melody slowly and steadily. He whispered in her ear, “Let's go!” “But we are coloring,” she murmured looking up into his eager eyes. “There's coloring and there's coloring. What you need is the more advanced adult coloring class.” He grabbed her and pulled her gently toward the exit of the library past the stairs and grins of a coloring class and the chuckling librarian. He snatched up their unfinished papers, grabbed their coats and they bounced out into the brisk coldness of the snowy evening. They jumped to dodge piles of snow across the street into a small café. The blue door welcomed the couple warmly into its fold. She looked up and smiled at the sign ‘Cafe Bleu.’ Once inside, he ordered two glasses of Merlot and appetizers of tempura vegetables, mushroom caps, and unsalted pretzel breadsticks. Paul gestured to the waiter to leave the bottle of wine on the table. “What should we toast to?” she smiled clinking her glass on his. “More color,” he said. Much more color! As they sipped the sweet blend, a sound of jazz filtered from the backstage. The quartet of musicians prepared for their next set. The table displayed their adult coloring pages now blurred from the snowflakes and now blended into one new vibrant blue.
By Saja Bo Storm6 years ago in Humans
