It was a cloudy summer’s day when we visited the tidal pools.  Jaky and I were on our first date. I will admit, this wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed doing. I’m certainly not opposed to the great outdoors, but never felt the calling to explore.

After nearly a year of dates with random women, of whom a series of questions deemed I was compatible with, I found Jaky. I had become a living vignette of boring dinner dates. Week after week, I made reservations at a new location, with a new woman who was considered to be my ideal match. And still, after each week, I found my text messages going unanswered.

I convinced myself to go against the grain and take a chance with someone new. That’s when I found Jaky. We were estimated at a dismal 23% compatibility, yet we were compelled to prove that number wrong.

She came from a wealthier family than mine. She grew up around horses which her family owned, while I once had a rocking horse that came second-hand from my cousin. Our paths would have never crossed beyond the internet.

Jaky didn’t want a typical dinner date. She told me this was her favorite place to go and wade through the shallow water. I watched her pushing water with her boots, leaving ripple after ripple in her wake.

As if I were still a schoolboy at recess, staring at his crush, I found myself lost in her. The sun was hardly shining, but light bounced perfectly off of her skin. I wore a t-shirt and board shorts, but she wore a dress. It was as if she knew something about life that I couldn’t comprehend; the ability to be comfortable in every moment, regardless of where it takes place.

“Hey,” she called to me, “what are you staring at?”

“I ju-,” I stammered, “I just saw a bird.”

“Well, that must have been a very interesting bird.” She smirked knowing that she caught me.

I’ve never believed in owning birds. I don’t hold any ill-will towards those who do, but I don’t see the purpose. Birds should have the space to fly and experience life outside of a cage or four walls. We, as humans, tend to experience life within our own cages. We’ve lost all instincts to live and experience life outside.

Personally, I found solace between four walls, as that’s where I’ve spent most of my life.

It wasn’t until I sat at water’s edge, looking upon this beautiful soul in rain boots, that I realized how confined I felt being outdoors. I wasn’t comfortable here. This wasn’t familiar to me.

“You don’t spend too much time outside, do you?”

Jaky was the only woman I met whose idea of a date was just spending time together.  There was no event, no activity, nothing to distract us from ourselves, but I had never felt so arrested.  She was every bit of a companion that I could ask for, but I couldn’t reflect her shining personality; not even a glimmer.

She waded back towards me and we sat together until the sun finally set.

Later that night I sent her a text message to ask if she want to have dinner with me.

It’s been a week now, but I still haven’t heard back.

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J.P. Polewczak

Broadcasting in text from the exotic lands of New Jersey. The absolute worst when it comes to self-deprecating humor. Analyst by day and in bed by night.

Latest posts by J.P. Polewczak (see all)

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