Finding Love Online

You click on the link leading to your redheaded sweetie. She’s online at this very minute and your heart skips a beat. You want to send an IM immediately, but you decide to go to her profile first. As perfect as you knew she would be. Your ideal mate. Your heart is racing now and your palms are sweaty. Your hand is shaking as you try to click the mouse on the IM link. Oh my God, you hear an alert noise coming from your computer and right before your eyes, an IM from the cute little redhead pops up in front of your face. You’re smiling like a school boy, just as they promised, this is too good to be true. She found you!

Now the IM’s are flying fast and furious. It’s like you have known each other for years. You even live in the same city. You share the same humor, you like the same things, it’s perfect.

She wants to see you. By now you are delirious. You’ve put that profile you made up out of your mind. She wants you, she loves you. You agree that you must meet. Tomorrow.

Bleary eyed from a lack of sleep, not to mention a slight headache from the wine and beer, you prepare for the meeting that will change your life. You leave for the restaurant 2 hours early, barely able to drive. The excitement is overwhelming. Popping breath mints, and a final splash of Brut, you’re ready to start your new life with your sweetie.

You get the table by the window, just as the two of you had discussed. Your stomach is full of butterflies and your heart is pounding. Suddenly you look up and you see that quiet woman who works one floor up from your department. One could say her hair is a shade of red, mixed with brown roots and plenty of grey. She is short in stature but not exactly ready for bikini weather. It’s been many years since she’s seen 25, she’s probably the same age as you.

When your eyes meet, she smiles at you. Your heart skips a beat. She has a smile that can light up a room. All those mornings of riding in the elevator with her, never speaking, never making eye contact. Her eyes, are beautiful. A clear deep ocean blue. Eyes you could get lost in.

She remains standing, just smiling at you. As you come to your senses, you jump up to pull out her chair and knock over your water glass. As you pull out her chair, she puts her hand on yours. Yes, this is the start of your perfect life.