The movie theater was empty on that particular night. The lights flickered dimly in the darkness of the large room. I sat with my new acquaintance, trying to get comfortable after a long day at work. My name is Jenny, and I'm 28 years old, which makes me feel old sometimes considering how young we both looked together in our early twenties. We were sitting on an empty movie theater floor surrounded by dimly lit projectors and screens displaying trailers of new films.

We had met through mutual friends who thought it would be a good idea for us to hang out since we shared some common interests such as traveling and trying out new foods. My guy friend, Alex, was charming when he first approached me at the bar where we all went together one night last week. We hit it off immediately talking about our favorite places around town that offered great food options.

The dim lighting in the movie theater added to the intimate atmosphere of our little get-together tonight as we cuddled up on a large blanket with some snacks and drinks within easy reach. It was nice seeing someone new after all these years of dating only one person, which can sometimes make relationships feel stagnant or boring. Alex made me laugh many times tonight while telling stories about his childhood and family traditions.

I felt safe enough to show him my vulnerable side while opening up more about myself in our conversation today compared to some people who might take advantage of that openness later on down the road maybe even hurting someone emotionally without realizing it at