Candy
We had known each other three months in a military history course at community college, and we ran into each other at university.
I figured, as best I can remember, that I had impressed her with how much I liked the military history course.
And we talked of I don't even remember what, because to me it was just talk. Because what else could it be?
But at the end came an invite, which I declined, being lost in myself. Because what else was there?
As she left in the elevator she looked about ready to cry, and it struck me numb that the reason was that I was not interested in her.
Which I hadn't been, because of course no breathing female was interested in me, not ever.
So I ran down the stairs to meet her and take her hand and tell her I was really quite stupid in a lot of ways.
But by then she was gone forever. She must have run right out of one of the most humiliating experiences of her life.
I console myself thinking she made herself happy with somebody better. I imagine it would be fairly easy.
It's hard to be a geek sometimes. Not as often as I'd like, but sometimes.