The man’s name was Eric, and our communication started with a week of text messages. His initial messages were impressive. He came across as confident and self-assured, but not in a pushy or arrogant way. He was the kind of person who took the time to write out complete sentences and would engage with my thoughts by asking thoughtful questions instead of simply sending generic, short replies. This engaging online exchange convinced me to finally move forward, and he suggested we have dinner at a very well-regarded Italian restaurant downtown.
The start of the actual date was truly picture-perfect. Eric arrived ahead of schedule, which spoke volumes about his respect for time. He held a beautiful bouquet of roses and was dressed in a sharp, crisp button-down shirt. “These are for you,” he announced, offering a smile that, at the time, felt very sincere and practiced, suggesting he valued good manners. Once we were inside the restaurant, he continued to display traditional courtesy: he pulled out my chair, offered a sincere compliment on my dress, and even presented me with a small, personalized keychain that had my initial neatly engraved on the metal.
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