Opinions by Adults

Sitting across the table from her best friend, Anna, Jessica wondered how someone could look so beautiful yet so sad all at the same time. Anna was nursing her drink and not really carrying on much of a conversation so it was clear to Jessica that something was wrong.

“So… what’s up with you? You look like you need a hug,” Jessica ventured. “I probably do,” Anna smiled in reply, “but don’t take it personally if you weren’t exactly the person I had in mind.” Jessica laughed but felt a little bad. Anna had broken up with her boyfriend months ago but, for some reason, she just wasn’t getting past the break-up this time.

“Look, honey… you know I adore you but you’ve got to try to move on from this. I understand that Jared broke your heart but there is much to be said for getting back on the horse, you know?” Jessica didn’t want to hurt Anna’s feelings but she couldn’t stand seeing her so down. “You need to shake up your routine. Why don’t you try some free online dating or something like that?”

“Free online dating? Are you serious?” Anna giggled, “Do I look that desperate?” Jessica knew that some convincing was going to be needed but she was up to the challenge. “There are plenty of people at my office that have signed up on free online dating sites, Anna, and they are far from desperate. They’re just lonely… I dare say like you.”

Although it stung a little, Anna knew she was right. She wasn’t upset with Jessica for her suggestion. She knew that she cared. It had been really difficult meeting new people since Jared had unceremoniously dumped her for the receptionist he had hired. It was clear the woman had not been hired for her brain or stellar work skills, so it felt to Anna like she’d been caught in the plot of a really bad movie.

“OK Jessica… but you can’t tell me that free online dating is really “free.” It sounds like one of those too good to be true propositions,” Anna challenged. “Well nothing’s ever free,” Jessica agreed, “but it is always free to join the site and create a profile - especially for women. They seem to want to attract as many women as possible, in a lot of cases. Once you’re signed up, I guess that is when they start charging for various options and services… but, if nothing else, Anna, you could just use them as a way to ease back into some kind of communication with the opposite sex. You can’t keep dating ME forever!”

Anna laughed and squeezed her best friend’s hand - a gesture that thanked her in a way that words could not express. She told herself she’d give it a try. It was only a few profiles. How bad could it be? Maybe, just maybe, it would get her out of her funk and headed back in the right direction.