But when I opened the message, my stomach dropped.
“Good morning,” it started. “I had a really great time last night. But there’s something I need to tell you.”
My heart started racing.
“I didn’t tell you everything about myself yesterday,” the message continued, “because I didn’t want the night to feel heavy. But if we’re going to see each other again, you deserve to know the truth.”
I stared at the screen, unsure of what was coming next.
Then I read the next line.
“I’m raising my daughter alone.”
That part surprised me, but it wasn’t shocking. Plenty of people have children.
But the message kept going.
“Her mother passed away three years ago.”
I paused. That was heartbreaking.
Then came another line that confused me even more.
“And the reason I didn’t tell you yesterday is because the date wasn’t actually supposed to happen.”
Now I was completely lost.
He explained that my friend had been trying to set him up for months, but he kept refusing. After losing his wife, dating again had felt impossible. His whole world had become his daughter and his responsibilities.
Finally, just to stop the constant pressure from friends, he agreed to go on one date.
He didn’t expect anything from it.
Then he wrote something I didn’t expect at all.
“I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did.”
I kept reading.
“For the first time in years, I laughed without forcing it. I went home smiling, and my daughter asked me why I looked so happy.”
My chest tightened a little reading that.
