Late Night Talking [h.s.]

one

Alaska (acoustic) - Maggie Rogers

February 14th is my least favorite day of the year.

Early on in my life, I decided that Valentine's Day was a scam - a way for corporations to take the money from the most desperate and vulnerable.

It could be a nice, enjoyable day for me, if it weren't for the bad taste that the idea of a relationship leaves in my mouth.

It's not that I'm not interested in a relationship with someone, but it just doesn't seem possible.

Maybe that's the case for me only.

Everyone wants to find love - some more than others - but how often is it that it actually works out?

Someone ends up heartbroken, one way or another. Others lie to themselves and pretend they're happy in a dying relationship.

All relationships come to their natural end, like it or not.

Hallmark can't sell that shit though, so they put sappy quotes in a card and hope for the best.

"Morning Teddy."

The only things I love in this life are my mom and my huge, fluffy orange cat named Teddy.

He is the only companion I will ever need.

Teddy meows back at me from his spot sprawled out on my wooden floors, in an area where the sun shone through the window perfectly.

"Breakfast time?" I ask him. He patters over to me, rubbing his soft body on my legs.

I know it's stereotypical of me to be so connected to my cat and be a lonely, 26 year old woman, but it works for me.

At a certain point after my last break up, I decided I was done - done with men, love, and the idea that the right person would come for me. I gave up searching for a person, and found Teddy.

Sure, there's approximately 875,000 people that live in San Francisco. But the dating pool isn't as vast as it may seem. At least half of the people here are in relationships, or not interested in women. The remainder of people left over who are single tend not to fit my criteria, and are most likely single for a reason.

Or, at least that's what the cynical part of my brain says; and unfortunately, the cynical part takes up at least 90% of the space up there.

Teddy is either extremely emotionally intelligent, or knows how to flirt better than half the men I've been with, because he won my heart quickly. He stayed by my side the first week I had him. He knew I needed him and his support in those dire times. He's continued to be the same loving little guy for the last two years.

I made myself my favorite breakfast as a treat, avocado toast on fresh sourdough bread with eggs on top.

As I sat at my kitchen table, scrolling on my phone, I thought about the shift I took at my job tonight.

Cary, the guy who usually works at night, requested off to be with his wife.

Understandable, I guess.

I took the shift since I have no plans, and to be a semi-nice person. I was essentially the only person who works at the station with no plans, so it felt necessary to fill in. It didn't seem like it would be difficult anyways. 9pm to 4am couldn't be too bad... could it?

How many people actually listen to the radio at night anyways?

I'm used to hosting the show in the mornings, on every average day, so the night shift would be different for me.

After my breakfast, I took a quick shower and put on a comfortable outfit - black leggings, a staple in my basic closet, and an oversized pink sweatshirt. It was fitting for Valentine's day. I thought I should look like the average enjoyer of Love Day activities and try to fit in a bit.