The Swipe of Fate
955 Words
John Mathew’s POV
Three or four days had slipped by since John Mathew decided to help his father explore the world of online dating. It wasn’t exactly an easy task—his dad, Grant, had been divorced for a while and didn’t talk much about dating. But John was determined to see his father happy again, maybe even in love.
Scrolling through Tinder, John tapped, swiped, and read profiles carefully, like a detective on a mission. Some seemed interesting, but not quite right. Some looked appealing on the surface, but their details didn’t feel genuine. Then, suddenly, a profile appeared that made him pause.
Her name was Lora.
Age: twenty-seven.
Occupation: worked in an IT department.
Height: five-foot-three.
Description: a pretty British woman with fair skin, blonde hair, and a smile that seemed alive with warmth.
The picture captured her essence perfectly—bright eyes, a natural charm, and something soft yet confident about her presence. John couldn’t help but grin. Now this is someone Dad might actually like.
He leaned back in his chair, rereading the profile. Her name rolled pleasantly off the tongue. Lora… Even her name sounded elegant, like a melody waiting to be sung.
Excitement bubbled in his chest. He imagined showing his father the profile, imagined his reaction. Would Grant be skeptical? Would he brush it off? John knew his father’s cautious nature. Still, there was something about this girl that felt different, special.
Better start with a simple hello, he thought. No pressure, no heavy introduction. Just ease into it.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard as he typed a message:
“Hi, Lora. Hope you’re having a good day. Would you like to grab coffee sometime?”
For a moment, he hesitated. It wasn’t him she’d be meeting—it would be his father. But Tinder didn’t exactly have a “set up my dad” option. Besides, who would know? He was simply opening the door. His father could walk through it if he wanted to.
Satisfied, John hit send, then leaned back, a smile tugging at his lips. It felt like the beginning of something—maybe a chapter his father had long been waiting for.
---
Alisha’s POV
Meanwhile, across the city, another set of eyes scanned Tinder with a different kind of focus.
Alisha had been searching for days, carefully and relentlessly, looking for someone worthy of her best friend, Lora. She knew Lora better than anyone—her quirks, her wounds, and the walls she had built. Lora had an awful history when it came to relationships. Failed romances, broken trust, and marriages falling apart in her family tree had left her doubtful and guarded. Alisha didn’t blame her; choosing the right person had never been her strongest skill.
Which was exactly why Alisha took the task into her own hands.
Her scrolling stopped when she stumbled upon a profile that made her breath hitch.
Name: Grant Mathew
Age: Forty-seven
Status: Divorced
Children: One teenage son
Occupation: CEO of a high-tech company
The profile picture showed a man with sharp features, strikingly handsome in a way that made Alisha lean in. His hair was touched with just the right amount of maturity—dark strands with subtle hints of gray. His smile was what caught her attention most: dominant yet boyishly charming, as if he knew the world had scarred him but refused to let it break his spirit.
Alisha’s mind raced. Forty-seven is older, yes… divorced, yes… a son, too. But CEO of a high-tech company? That means stable, responsible. Successful.
Her protective side wavered for a moment when she thought of the word divorce. She hated it, despised the idea of broken marriages, of shattered promises. The thought alone pierced her heart. But life wasn’t black and white. Maybe his divorce had a story behind it. Maybe he deserved another chance at love.
And wasn’t that exactly what Lora needed too?
Alisha leaned closer to her phone, studying every word, every photograph. Her instincts whispered that this man carried both scars and strength—exactly the kind of balance Lora needed in her life.
She didn’t overthink it. For once, she allowed her boldness to take charge. Without hesitation, she clicked on Grant’s profile and began setting things in motion.
Her heart pounded as she confirmed the date on Lora’s behalf: Sunday night, seaside restaurant, candlelight tables overlooking the waves.
It was perfect. Romantic, private, filled with the kind of atmosphere that could melt even the hardest walls around Lora’s heart.
As she finalized the booking, Alisha closed her eyes briefly and whispered a silent wish: Please, let this work. Let this be the man who will see her, truly see her, and give her the happiness she deserves.
Of course, doubt still lingered in the back of her mind. A divorced CEO with a teenage son? That was at least one red flag. Maybe two. But Alisha reminded herself that no one came without baggage. What mattered was how they carried it.
Grant carried his with elegance, she decided. And that was enough.
She set her phone aside and smiled to herself. Sunday would be the beginning of something—she could feel it.
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The Convergence
Neither John nor Alisha knew that their actions, driven by love and loyalty for two different people, were about to collide in the most unexpected way.
John, hoping to find someone for his father.
Alisha, hoping to find someone for her friend.
Two matches. One app. One swipe of fate.
And on Sunday night, in a seaside restaurant under the soft glow of lanterns and the steady rhythm of the waves, paths would cross.
For better or worse, destiny was already at work.
- Writer
