september, twice

Mrs. Kessler said yes. I pinned it. It is sitting right under Reggie's DM like a little medal. September. Mine.

Then a man I never met DM'd me. "Can I send him your number." Who is him. Who are you. I screenshotted it. I sent it to the app. They did not say one word back. Not one.

Vera wants me for the Met. Priya was making coffee in the kitchen. The room smelled like Sunday. Vera just said it, casual, like it was not a bomb. September again. Same month. I nodded like I was cool. I was not cool.

So now I have two septembers. Two. And a stranger in my phone asking for my number. And the app going quiet.

Here is the thing I will not say out loud. I keep waiting for them to pick me. Not the old face. Me. The taste. Today two people picked me. Today it was not the face. Today I want to cry in the bathroom a little and I am not going to.