As much as I try to stay off this thread, sometimes it feels like the only space where I can really be open about how I’m feeling — and maybe find comfort in knowing others have felt the same. I’m 26F, and I went on a date today. In the days leading up to it, we shared a few vulnerable conversations. He seemed thoughtful and kind, and I genuinely enjoyed interacting with him. I let myself think, maybe this one is different. Maybe there’s a chance for something meaningful here. But now, I’m sitting with the feeling that I was probably just company — someone nice to interact with, but not someone he truly wanted to get to know. That’s been a bit of a pattern lately, and it’s been hard not to take it to heart. I’m writing this feeling a bit emotional — this has been my reality for a while, and I can’t help but tear up. I allowed myself to be open and hopeful, and now I’m left wondering if it meant anything at all. Maybe I’m just more sensitive than I realize, or maybe the loneliness has been weighing heavier than usual. I guess the hardest part is not really knowing what it feels like for someone to genuinely want to know me — not just what I look like, but who I am underneath it all. And maybe that’s why I sometimes move too quickly, hoping to find something real. I just feel I keep experiencing the same fate.