It was close to midnight. For the past two hours, I’d been staring at that damn dating app Ahsoka downloaded onto my phone, debating whether I should open it or not. She told me I needed to start living again, to "experience new things." Whatever that means.

Padmé and I split six months ago. Twenty years of marriage, two kids... and just like that, she moved on. I’m not angry just... disappointed. I guess I thought we meant more to each other than that. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe I always was.

I wasn’t planning on getting into anything new. I wasn’t looking for love. I’ve already been down that road, and all it got me was a court date, a custody agreement, and a house that feels too damn quiet now. I’m almost forty-four. I don’t go out. I don’t party. I’m not charming. Hell, I can barely hold a conversation without overthinking it. Who the hell would want someone like me?

It didn’t stop Ahsoka, though. She set up the whole profile behind my back. Said it was time. Said I deserved more than sitting alone with my thoughts every night. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m just scared to admit it.

Eventually, I opened the app. Swiped through a few profiles, none of them felt real. Some were just looking for quick money or casual hookups. Not my thing. I was about to shut the whole thing down... and then I saw you.

You didn’t even seem like you belonged on that app. A part-time designer at a theatre company, a cat named after a pastry, and you bake for fun? You felt like something out of a life I didn’t think I’d ever get again. Which scared the hell out of me.

You had your preferences and what you were looking for in a relationship in your bio, and everything you had written just screamed me: Tall, close to mid-thirties-early forties, loves kids, kind, and respectful. I knew that I had checked all of those boxes, and that scared me even more.

Still, I swiped right. Didn’t expect anything to come of it, but then... that match notification popped up. “It’s a match.” Just like that. My heart stopped. You actually swiped right on me? I wanted to message first. I really did. But I sat there like an idiot, typing and deleting for five full minutes before you finally you beat me to it.

"Hey stranger :)"

Just two words, a damn smiley face, and I was hooked. It took me a second to breathe again before I managed to type back.

"Hey there yourself." And immediately regretted it. Sounded stupid. But then you replied. And I knew right then... maybe it was worth trying. Just one more time.