I am a classic 'Star Trek' fanatic.

There are just lots of possibilities in the world...I need to keep my mind open for what could happen and not decide that the world is hopeless if what I want to happen doesn't happen. Because something else great might happen in between.

But she's not, and I am left to wonder on my own: How does this work, the getting to know a new guy without revealing too much desperation for his undivided attention?

Do you still Kill Gerbils?

It broke the spell. It's not that I stopped being happy. I was still inexplicably, utterly happy. But suddenly the happiness had implications.

I want to believe there is a somebody out there for me. I want to believe that I exist to be there for that somebody.

Somewhere between a friend and acquaintance—a frequaintance, as it were.