How Dating Apps Change Human Connection

For the next few days she stayed in a hostel before finding a room to rent with a lady.

The waitressing job didn’t pay much so she didn’t have much room to maneuver.

The lady was a kind woman in her 70s who sometimes invited her over for a bite to eat or a glass of sherry and during the time she stayed there they became friends.

She told her everything that had happened and the lady listened carefully to her story.

“I think that Joachim is the best person you seem to have around you right now,” she said one evening just before Nikki was going to go to her place.

“Yes.

Maybe so.

I haven’t spoken to him yet.

He called…”

“…

but you haven’t called.

I think you should.”

“He doesn’t need to hear my complaints.

Besides, it’s my fault he didn’t get any grades and now I’ve also covered up the reason for that.”

“After what you told me, he’ll understand.

Look.

Call your friend, partner or what ever you call him: now.” Nikki looked at the clock.

Joachim was always up.

What did it matter what time it was?

She thanked him and went into her room, scrolled to him on the display and pressed “call.” He answered quickly.

“Hi.

It’s been a while.

How are you?”

“You’re going to shoot me,” she just said sullenly.

“You dumped him.”

“How did you know?”

“Because the only reason I would shoot you is because your love for him cost me my job at Q.”

Her courage sank.

“How are you?” he said.

“It’s okay.

I don’t know.

Maybe it was an illusion too.

You know…

I mostly stayed home while he worked.

He talked about getting me a job in an office but nothing happened.

He was sleeping with her the whole time, wasn’t he?”

“Who?”

“Sorry.

I caught him with the girl he was with after he dumped me.”

“Oh.”

“And unfortunately I won’t be able to help you get into Q either.”

“It was probably done from the start.”

“Have you heard anything about PlaynDate from Q?”

“No!

But you’re okay, then?” Nikki sighed deeply.

“He’s a completely closed chapter.

Damn it.

My life never seems to get sorted out.”

“Your life is nothing more than your own choices Nikki.

You know that, right ?” She snorted a little.

“Well, then you can build a new algorithm that makes those choices for me because I obviously can’t handle them.

Or don’t do it anyway.

It wasn’t very successful either.”

It became quiet.

“Where do you live?”

“With a nice older lady.

I’m renting a room.

But I don’t know how long I can afford it.

I work at a café now but it’s not enough.

She was the one who thought I should call you, by the way.”

Silence again.

“Come here,” he said.

“You can live here.

I have a new apartment.

We can split the rent.

I have some odd jobs and you can work as a waitress.

Just until you find something.”

Nikki bit her lip.

“So I ruin your degree, ruin the reason I ruined it, ruin your chances of getting help, and then you want to live with me?”

“Like I said.

Social skills aren’t my thing, but I could use the money for rent.”

“Thanks Joachim, but I don’t know…”

“Think about it.

I have to go now, but call me when you’ve decided.

Or,” he said, pausing.

“Call whenever you want.

I’m here if you want to talk.”

Those last words were something Nikki had rarely heard.

She actually had someone there who would listen.

Who wouldn’t lock her in a room or break her heart.

She had a friend.

PlayNDate was created for people who wanted something slower, deeper and more human.