Chapter 3 Online 1

• I stared at the screen of my laptop, watching Linda's face flicker with the familiar glitches of our video call. Despite the occasional pixelation, I could clearly see her teasing smile.
• "So, what’s new with you?" she asked, her eyes bright with curiosity. She always had this energy, even through a screen.
• I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Nothing much. Work, as usual. How about you?"
• Linda shrugged. "Same old, same old. But seriously, Sade, you need to get out more. You can’t spend all your time working or chatting with me."
• I chuckled. "I like chatting with you. It’s safe."
• "Safe?" Linda raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Sade. You need some excitement in your life. Which brings me to my next point—why haven’t you gotten a boyfriend yet?"
• I felt my face heat up. I always knew this question was coming, but it still caught me off guard. "Linda, you know it’s not that simple."
• Linda's expression softened. "I know, but you deserve to be happy. Maybe you’re just not looking in the right places."
• I sighed again. "Maybe. It’s just…hard to find someone who gets me, you know? Someone who understands my quirks and my love for staying in."
• Linda laughed. "Maybe you should try one of those dating apps. Lots of people find love online these days."
• Linda grinned. "You never know until you try. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? You might meet someone interesting."
• I shook my head but couldn’t help smiling. "I guess it wouldn’t hurt to look."
• Linda nodded enthusiastically. "That’s the spirit! Give it a shot, Sade. You might be surprised."
• I glanced at my laptop screen, feeling a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. "Alright, I’ll think about it."
• Linda’s smile widened. "That’s all I ask. Now, tell me more about your day."
• After our conversation ended, I closed the video call window and sat back, staring at my laptop screen. Linda's words echoed in my mind. Maybe she was right. What was the worst that could happen? I took a deep breath and opened the app store, typing "dating" into the search bar. A list of apps appeared, and I picked one with good reviews.
• As the app downloaded, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. This was new territory for me. When the download finished, I opened the app and started the registration process. Name: Sade. Age: 28. Interests: reading, cooking, and cozy nights in. I hesitated at the profile picture section, scrolling through my camera roll until I found a decent photo from a recent day out with Linda. Smiling but not overly posed. Perfect.
• I uploaded the picture and filled out the rest of my profile, trying to strike a balance between honesty and intrigue. When I was done, I reviewed everything once more before hitting "Submit."
• I glanced at the clock. It was getting late, and I had work in the morning. I decided to leave the swiping for another day. I shut down my laptop, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. Maybe this would lead to something, maybe not. But at least I was trying something new.
• I crawled into bed, the weight of the day finally catching up to me. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t help but wonder who I might meet in this digital world of possibilities.
• The next morning, I was jolted awake by the insistent beeping of my alarm clock. I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I realized I had hit the snooze button one too many times. I scrambled out of bed, hastily throwing on my work clothes and grabbing my bag. I barely had time to gulp down a quick cup of coffee before rushing out the door.
• Work was a blur of meetings, emails, and deadlines. By the time I finally logged off and left the office, I felt drained. The crowded train ride home didn’t help, but I tried to focus on the thought of a quiet evening in my apartment.
• When I got home, I kicked off my shoes and headed straight to the kitchen. Cooking was my way to unwind. I decided to make rice and stew, something simple yet comforting. As the rice simmered and the stew bubbled on the stove, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The familiar scents filled the apartment, making it feel more like home.
• While stirring the stew, I found myself thinking about the dating app I had signed up for the night before. Part of me was curious to see if anyone had responded to my profile, but I decided to enjoy my dinner first. I plated up the rice and stew, taking a moment to appreciate the effort I had put into the meal.
• I carried my plate to the living room, sinking into the couch and turning on the TV. As I ate, my mind wandered back to the app. Who knows? Maybe there was a message waiting for me, or maybe my profile was still floating unnoticed in the digital sea of faces.
• After finishing dinner and washing the dishes, I made my way to my laptop, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. I powered it on and opened the dating app. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a notification: a message from someone named Marcus.
• I clicked on the message and read, "Hello beautiful."
• A smile crept across my face. I clicked on Marcus’s profile to learn more about him. His profile picture showed a tall, handsome man with dark hair and warm brown eyes. He was standing by a lake, the sun setting behind him, casting a golden glow over everything. He had a kind smile that seemed to reach his eyes, giving him an approachable yet confident look.
• His profile mentioned he was a software developer, enjoyed hiking, playing the guitar, and had a penchant for trying out new recipes. There was something about his profile that felt genuine, not overly polished or pretentious. I found myself intrigued by his interests, especially his love for cooking, which was a pleasant surprise.
• I reread his message, trying to decide how to respond. After a moment of thought, I typed back, "Hi Marcus, nice to meet you! How's your day going?" I hit send and leaned back in my chair, feeling a flutter of excitement.
• For the first time in a long while, I felt a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this digital connection could lead to something real.