In 2014, I used to be on each courting app identified to people as a result of I used to be in search of my future spouse.
OKCupid, Hinge, Bumble, Tinder, Loads of Fish, Craigslist, Kijiji. Okay, possibly not these final two.
Quickly after, I met a woman on OKCupid, and we had hit it off. For the sake of privateness, I’m going to confer with her by one other identify, so let’s name her Colleen. Colleen and I began to speak on OKCupid, and we finally determined to exit.
Now, I’m going to interrupt this story with a associated tangent. Anybody who is aware of me is aware of that I’ve social nervousness. For years, it impacted my romantic life as I discovered myself struggling to be myself. I prevented many social conditions, together with courting. I felt like I had put up this wall that prevented me from attending to know different folks and others from attending to know me. And my date with Colleen was no completely different.
In any case, that was some wanted context, so let’s get again to the story.
One snowy night in February, Colleen and I made a decision to fulfill up at Aroma Espresso Bar.
I used to be like a scared little chipmunk eager to crawl again into its gap. I used to be simply quietly sipping my London Fog tea latte, not figuring out what to say. All through the date, I stated the phrases, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say” at the very least 5 occasions (I’ve counted).
One excruciating hour later, we parted methods, figuring out we might by no means see one another once more. So, issues have been going to finish… solely not fairly.
Like many Torontonians, I depend on public transit and I headed again to the closest subway station.
After all, there she was on the subway platform, ready for the practice too. I believed to myself “please don’t make eye contact,” “please don’t make eye contact,” “please don’t make eye contact.” However after all, we made eye contact so there was no avoiding her. I stated one thing ridiculous like “fancy assembly you right here” or “very long time no see.”
We went on the subway collectively, each of us heading north. We sat subsequent to one another, however we weren’t speaking.
As awkward because it was, technically, this counts as a second date, proper?
Then, after all, there was a subway delay. As a result of we are able to at all times depend on Toronto’s public transit system to intervene in our lives on the worst potential occasions.
The subway was short-turning, and we each received off. As a result of it was freezing, we took shelter inside Tim Horton’s.
This date was merely refusing to name it quits.
In case you have been questioning, we have been nonetheless barely speaking. We simply made the odd glances at one another, as if we have been telepathically speaking to one another “what is occurring proper now? What are we doing right here?”
Inside Tim Horton’s, I received myself a sizzling chocolate and I requested her if she needed something. She received a sizzling chocolate too. Perhaps there may be hope in any case. Unlikely.
We nonetheless wanted to get dwelling, so I known as my dad, who got here to select me up. Once more, making an attempt to be well mannered, I awkwardly requested the woman if she needed a journey dwelling. I didn’t suppose she would say sure.
However after all, she did.
Now, I’m sitting within the automobile with my dad and… some random woman I didn’t suppose I’d see once more.
My dad proceeded to introduce himself to my non-future spouse.
However after that, the automobile was silent. I can see my dad me by means of the rearview window, smiling by means of the mirror and winking like he was impressed that I had a woman within the backseat.
The automobile journey lasted quarter-hour nevertheless it felt like a lifetime. We lastly received to Colleen’s place and we dropped her off.
Now, I do know what you’re most likely pondering at this level: Colleen and I shared a subway delay collectively, and he or she even met my dad. We undoubtedly received married, proper?
Nope. I by no means noticed her once more.
It was only a dreadfully lengthy romantic date with somebody I had no chemistry with that lastly got here to an finish.
Once more, this occurred in 2014.
It’s ten years later and I’m now engaged to a spectacular girl who, I would add, has met my dad and with whom I can sit comfortably throughout a subway delay.
Typically, you must endure embarrassingly awkward dates that don’t finish till you meet the one for you.
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Beforehand Printed on Medium
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