Party Connection

I stared at my phone for the umpteenth time and placed it back in my pocket. This party was taking forever.

Sighing, I took a sip of whatever was in the red cup Miki handed to me earlier. It was probably some kind of vodka-beer mix that my plebeian taste buds would never appreciate. Ah well, it was something to do, I guess.

I scanned the room, hoping to find someone to talk to in this dimly lit place. Miki was busy flirting it up with what seems to be her lay for the night. Aaron was, of course, with his, ugh, overprotective girlfriend, and Abigail was busy making new friends, as she always was. Other than that, a sea of unfamiliar faces. Why do I even let myself get talked into going to these mixers anyway?

That’s when my eyes fell on him. He was sitting in a rocking chair of sorts. The shadows fell on his face as a kind of light illuminated his figure. His attention was on his phone, and I could see him gently tap away on the screen. It was a beautiful moment, a kind of accidental painting that unfolded amongst a drunken crowd.

I wondered why he was here in this frivolous party of people looking for people, people finding people, people *pretending* there was someone for them to find. And of course, people like me, who were desperately seeking something, anything to fill the void of an otherwise lonely night.

As I pondered over this, he looked up, and his eyes locked on mine. I shyly smiled his way and waved. A small though nervous smile appeared on his lips and he waved back.

With a glow in my heart and a shaky step, I walked towards him.

–
Image source: reddit.com/r/AccidentalRenaissance/comments/7audaf/man_on_phone_at_boring_family_gathering/
First written November 17, 2017.
#46