Love and Otherworldly Clubs: A College Romance - Chapter 2

I woke up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. For a moment, I was disoriented, trying to figure out where I was and what was going on.

And then I remembered. It had all been a dream. The beautiful girl at the radio station table, the funny and friendly girls at the environmental club. None of it was real.

I felt a pang of disappointment, but also a sense of relief. It was easier to retreat into my shell than to put myself out there and risk rejection.

As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t help but reflect on my life. I was a 19-year-old college freshman, but I felt like a child. I was shy and awkward, with no real hobbies or interests. I wasn’t athletic or outgoing, like the guys I had always admired from afar.

I lived with my mom in a small apartment, and she tried to encourage me to be more social and active. But I just couldn’t seem to muster the motivation. It was easier to stay in my room, playing video games or watching TV, than to try to engage with the outside world.

But something had shifted in me last night, in that dream. For the first time in a long time, I had felt a sense of purpose and excitement. I had been part of a group, and it had felt good.

Maybe it was time for me to make a change. To take a risk and try something new. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in this rut, alone and unfulfilled.

I swung my legs out of bed and stood up, feeling a sense of determination building inside me. It was time to get dressed and head to orientation. Maybe there would be some opportunities there for me to start building a new life.

As I got dressed, I thought about what I wanted. I wanted a girlfriend, yes, but more than that, I wanted to be part of a community. To have friends and interests and passions.

It wasn’t going to be easy, but I was willing to try. I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door, feeling a sense of hope that I hadn’t felt in a long time.