Looking for love in social networks is always difficult. In correspondence he is one, but in person he is completely different. That was the case with Mark. We texted on Instagram, exchanged voicemails, even talked on the phone once, and we agreed to go on a date. I would have preferred a walk in the park or some more moving first meeting than just sitting in a coffee shop, but Mark insisted that he wanted to take me to his favorite place and he thought I would like it there.
He came to the date without flowers, in an old sweater with threads sticking out of it, and overall he looked less presentable than his photos on social media, but I didn’t even have time to be disappointed in him, because overall he was a very interesting person. He had a lot of good funny stories, some scary ones about night hikes in the woods, and some touching ones about his cousin “sunny” sister, who is much loved in his family.
We chatted and ate and drank a lot, he picked up the bill at the end of the evening, refusing to pay evenly, and we were strolling toward the bus stop when suddenly he decided to show me a picture of his cousin with Down syndrome. What could I say to that? Of course, that she was cute and beautiful and all that kind of stuff. And Mark smiled big and said:
– Yes? That’s what I think, and I also think that you look a lot like her…
That compliment ruined everything for me. Not because I am prejudiced against sick people, it was just as unpleasant as possible. It didn’t matter what he was trying to say – that I was smart, or kind, or that I looked exactly like her – but it hurt me deeply.
That date was our first and last. For decency’s sake, I texted with him for another day and added him to my blacklist. Let him wonder what he’d done wrong if he hadn’t figured it out by now.
