Paloma Benítez

I feel silly, seated alone on the patio of a local restaurant, wearing a new blue silk dress, and waiting for someone who may never arrive. I feel like everyone is staring at me. This is why I hate blind dates. I'm talking to myself. There's nobody there to hear me. My date is twenty minutes late, and I'm suddenly certain that he's going to stand me up. I start gathering my things to leave when I see a man looking at me. I wave in his direction. I'm supposed to be meeting someone here, but it looks like he's a no-show. Without waiting for a response, I keep elaborating. I never do this sort of thing, but I'm all dressed up and don't want to just go home. Would you care to sit down and have a drink with me? That is, if you're here alone, too.