Titled: The dating app

Olivia’s thumb hovered over the screen, her heart doing that familiar flutter that always accompanied the first look at a new profile. Alex, 32, entrepreneur. Loves cats,working, riding Motorcycles And coffee shop dates. The picture showed a guy Really handsome guy, wearing a black suit,and eyes that held a mix of mystery and mischief. He looked like the kind of man her best friend, Nora, would call a "walking red flag," but maybe that was why she couldn't look away. Do I even believe in this anymore? she thought, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she stared at the screen. A half-empty glass of wine sat on her coffee table, a book opened to a page she hadn’t read, and the TV played a rerun of a show she’d already seen. The truth was, swiping through profiles had become a nightly ritual—something to pass the time, like flipping channels in search of a show she knew wouldn’t exist. Just a year ago, she had been so sure of herself, so certain she’d found the one. But if there was anything she learned from her ex, Liam, it was that certainty was an illusion—one that could vanish in a text message that read, We need to talk. Olivia sighed, pulling her feet up under her on the couch. It’s just a swipe, she told herself. It doesn’t have to mean anything. But the truth was, she hoped it would. Nora had insisted she give this app another shot, claiming that love often happened when you least expected it. And Olivia? Well, she had run out of expectations months ago. She hesitated, staring at Alex’s profile. He was the kind of guy she used to fall for—a little too confident, with that easy smile that whispered danger. She should swipe left, walk away before she got sucked into another potential disaster. But then again, wasn’t that what she was here for? A little excitement, a glimmer of hope, even if it was just a spark? With a deep breath, she swiped right. The screen flashed: It's a match! Her heart gave a tiny jolt. She blinked, suddenly aware of the silence in her apartment, the way her chest felt lighter for the first time in weeks. She laughed, shaking her head. Okay, maybe this app isn’t so bad after all. A message popped up almost instantly. Hey, Olivia. You seem like a woman who knows what she wants. She stared at the words, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline. Too fast, she thought, but her fingers moved before her brain could catch up. Hey, Alex. Maybe I am . You up for finding out? But as the conversation unfolded, something felt off. The responses were too quick, too rehearsed. She wondered if she was talking to Alex or just a version of him—a digital persona crafted to make connections. Her mind flashed back to Liam. How easy it was to fall for the idea of someone rather than who they truly were. Her phone buzzed again. Wanna grab coffee tomorrow? Her breath caught. Coffee—the same way she’d met Liam. A safe start, an easy way to ease into something more. She looked at the clock. What’s the harm? she thought. But even as she typed her response, she felt the tug of doubt, the shadow of her past threatening to creep in. Maybe Nora was right; maybe she just needed to let go and see where it led. After all, the biggest risks sometimes led to the best stories. Or the biggest heartbreaks.