Читать книгу Help Me Hold Onto This - Zachary Leonard - Страница 5

I watched the glass of my phone as the square-shaped icon loaded an app onto my device. When it finished loading and the dull colors became fully vibrant, I hesitated to open it. A dating app. Something I hadn’t tried before. But my friend, Jon, had just used this app to meet the man that he is now dating. So, I figured what’s the worst that could happen?

I clicked on the icon and my phone turned black, only the small green logo in the center of the screen. It asked me for a username and a password, a photo of myself, what I was looking for specifically, and some general age and height stats.

My fingers felt heavy as I typed the words into the text boxes and uploaded photos of myself that had been pre-approved by Jon, and soon, I had an entire profile set up.

It felt strange to me that this was the new normal way to meet people. As if parties or nights out or introductions by mutual friends could no longer cut it.

The main screen of the app looked like an early 2000’s chat room. A list of profiles like a ladder down the side with an option to “chat” or “wave.”

“Now what do I do?” I asked Jon who was sitting sideways on the chair across from me at the bar.

“What do you mean,” he said. “You just look through and talk to someone you think is cute.”

“You know, I really don’t think this is for me. I mean like how do you actually get to know someone through something like this. It feels impersonal.”

“Ugh,” he started in his complaining voice. “Why does everything have to be so serious with you?”

I closed the app and set my phone on the table. My face fell into my hands. At this point, I had been single for so long that dating didn’t even feel like it was worthwhile. I took a sip of my gin and tonic.

“This is exactly why this is for you. I think you need this,” he said. “Just chill out. Chat with some guys and don’t take everything so personal. Just have a good time. It doesn’t have to be love.”

“I just don’t see the point,” I said as my phone vibrated on the table. A new message notification. “Why should I even read it?”

“Because you deserve to have some fun for once.”

I didn’t like it. But I thought maybe Jon was right. Maybe it had been too long since I let loose a little. I slide my finger across the screen of my phone and opened the app to see what was in store for me.