You just received a casual text invitation to a party. Just like that, a thousand questions begin swirling and plaguing your head. Is it just a pity invite? Does this person actually like me? Do I like them? Do I have some sort of reasonable excuse for not going? Do I have anything to wear? Does my cat desire my presence more than this person? Can my cat come?
Meanwhile, your cat…
You whisper sweet nothings to your books. You place a gentle, lingering palm upon your bed and promise you will return before midnight. You suit up in your most spectacular, party-pioneering outfit…
You resist the urge to bid a tearful farewell to your cat in fear that just uttering the words will break your resolve…
And you’re off, practicing your dance moves on the way…
Trying to figure out a smooth and undetected entrance while weighed down by your crippling anxiety…
You muster up the courage to enter but the sheer magnitude of people slams into you…
You make a valiant recovery! You’ve come this far!
You grab a drink and attempt to spirit through the crowd like a ghost to a secluded corner on the other side of the room…
A good-natured rando approaches you and attempts to engage in the dreaded small talk! You attempt to appear fascinated and pleasant, but you cannot help but feel stuck behind a wall…
You finally blurt out a question. It’s silly. Oh no… I’m ruined… but wait… They are smiling and laughing! Their eyes light up. You question intrigues them. Success! You just went up a level in socializing. You don’t go out often so you don’t need much XP to go up a level. Woohoo!
Eventually, others join the conversational orbit. Your energy wanes. Your duty here is done. It is time to find a way to politely drift… towards the food!
Suddenly, the host’s dog appears! Oh sweet savior! It trots down the stairs towards you, each step echoing the beating of your eager heart. You lock eyes and realize that this is destiny. This is why you came.
You spend the rest of the party with the precious doggo. His name tag says Elvis. That is a good, solid name. You talk about the dangers of lettuce…
And the terrors and joys of taking a risk…
The pleasures of relaxing after a long day at work…
And finally how humans of all kinds can be truly wonderful if you put in the effort to connect…
The end
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