Page 7 of It Started in the Chatroom

Cinderelly369: Hey.

Ibit my lip as I contemplated whether this was the right response. Should I have included an exclamation point at the end instead of a period? Should I have asked how their day is going? Or their pronouns?

Charming123:Is this whole thing as weird to you as it is to me?

Ibreathed a sigh of relief and smiled.They think it’s weird, too.

Cinderelly369:It is, but it’s kinda liberating at the same time. I don’t even know your pronouns.

Charming123:He/Him. I feel like every time someone sees me in Hemingway, they automatically know who I am, though. Small town and all. You don’t recognize me?

Iblinked, going back to Charming’s profile, knowing it was going to alert him that I was looking at it but not caring. Did I miss the photo somehow?

I didn’t; like my photo space, Charming’s was also blank. I went back to the message.

Cinderelly369:It’s not visible. Your photo, I mean. Did you want it to be?

Charming123:Oh God. I feel like that old man asking his grandson how to turn on a computer. That explains a lot of my interactions on here, though. How do I turn on my profile photo?

Cinderelly369:I’m not sure; I’m not very tech-savvy. Sorry I can’t help ??

Charming123:No worries; I’ll get one of my siblings to help. What else are they good for, anyway?

Ilaughed. Apparently, though, too much time went by, and Charming followed up with another message.

Charming123:Not to say that people have to be useful for something. I love my siblings for the people they are.

Charming123:Shit, am I rambling?

Ididn’t know who Charming was, but he was living up to his username. I smiled.

Cinderelly369:I’m not offended, no worries. I’m Ciara, by the way. Ciara Payne.

Charming123:Not me just realizing I didn’t introduce myself ?? I’m Nathan Hemingway. Yes, that one. I promise I’m not an imposter.

My eyes widened, and I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk.Nathan Hemingway? Nathan Hemingway, on a dating app??I wondered what the story was there—especially so close to his mother’s death. Was this his way of numbing the pain, by picking up random women online?

But also, why would he choose to disclose his name on the app? I told him mine because I figured he would never remember who I was—but what was his reasoning?

And if he didn’t care if people knew who he was…why was he on an anonymous dating app?

As I was thinking about this, Nathan responded again.

Charming123:Great; now I’ve made it even weirder and scared you off.

Gathering myself, I hurried to type a response.

Cinderelly369:Well, if you’re an imposter, you’re the most balanced, thoughtful imposter I’ve met on here. Also, I’d rather talk to you, imposter or not, than get another picture of someone’s penis. I’ve seen enough penises to last a lifetime.

Charming123:?????? And yet, you’re still here. I admire your courage.

Ismiled and stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to appreciate the praise. Eagerly, I continued the conversation.

Cinderelly369: So what brings you to the app?

Iwatched the typing bubbles pop up several times and disappear just as many times before Nathan responded.

Charming123: Well, to be honest…I’m here to find a wife.

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