She was wearing all black when I met her. A long black dress, not many details, not too flashy. But it wasn’t plain, it was calm. She sipped her wine slowly and I could tell that she was bored, out of place, un belonging. I wondered her name before I questioned anything else about her. I started to run a list of names through my head, names that would fit this woman full of essence whom stood on the other side of the room. It was an ill attempt, seeing as none of the names seemed to measure up. She hadn’t looked my way yet, I doubted that she ever would. She didn’t seem too fazed by the crowd around her, the suits and dresses of people mingling about things that lacked importance. She didn’t even seem interested in the wine that sat in her hand.

The night continued as it usually does. I chatted to people whose name I will probably never remember. I ate tiny snacks that tasted bland and listened to the music that did the opposite of making me want to dance. But throughout this, I continued to glance her way. She had moved by now, to a different spot. A different wall to attempt to blend herself into. This time a woman came over to speak to her. I watched intently for a moment and then I could swear I felt the earth move when she threw her head back and laughed. I wanted to- I had to be that person next. I had to be the one to make her laugh like that. I forced myself to pry my eyes away from her. I was staring for far longer than comfort. When I finally decided to look again, she was gone. I felt nervous as my eyes scanned around the room. I was angry at myself for not speaking, not going up to her, at the very least, getting her name. Finally throughout my frantic scanning, there she was. At a table with her wine, swirling it around in the glass. I involuntarily let out a sigh of relief. Though it was short lived when my breath was quickly stolen from me yet again.

She looked up to me. Her eyes found mine across the room- and that was the last time I belonged to myself. She smiled, it was soft and calming like the black dress she wore so well. I decided this was my time, my moment. If I missed it, something deep inside told me that I would never get it again. I made my way over to her. My steps felt slow and frigid, my heart beat rang in my ears, the music of the party seemed to be louder and more annoying than before. That is until, I reached the table, her table. Everything else faded into somewhere else, somewhere she wasn’t and somewhere I would never go. She smiled again as she looked up at me.

I stuck my hand out to shake hers. “My name is Noah.” I said.

She grabbed my hand in return. Her touch was warm and it reminded me of home. Not the home I grew up in or even the one I live in now, but the one that I have been desperately craving since I learned how to feel alone.

“Hi Noah, I’m Destiny.” She said.

Of course.