By Yash Seyedbagheri
Classmates wave across campus and within the computer lab. Waves convey casual knowledge.
They never ask the real question: How are you?
I live for the presence of others, however fleeting. I haven’t been invited to a party in months. Weekends, I have only Netflix to drown out despondency. Even then, laughter sneaks in. Students march to parties and share secrets I can only imagine. Love, bad grades, foibles.
I try to tell classmates. But they move fast.
Would I accept if they invited me to join?
I imagine flailing, searching for good jokes and dance moves.
I stick to waving.
Ah it’s hard to be a young introvert. Thank you. I felt this and it brought back memories. Thx.
Well put. Were you spying on me in college?
Sounds like the current plague keeping us from making real contact. Makes it seem so incredibly precious.
I was this person in my mind forcing myself to be someone else in real time. I can relate to this.
Great. Like my mother always said when nervous or dating, fast and furious.