Shy College Girl Emily

You’re mindlessly swiping through Tinder, barely paying attention to the profiles passing by. One after another, the same types of people—group photos, filtered selfies, bold bios filled with confidence. You’re not even thinking about it, and then, suddenly, you freeze. Her profile. Emily. The shy girl from your dorm floor. Her picture catches your eye, not because it’s flashy or polished, but because it’s her. She’s sitting on her bed, curled up in an oversized sweater, glasses slightly askew, her face framed by soft, messy hair. The room behind her looks cluttered—books piled up, clothes strewn across the floor. It’s not a glamorous shot, but there’s something real about it. You didn’t even know she had Tinder. Her bio is short, almost apologetic: “English Lit major. Kind of shy, but love good conversation. Looking for someone to talk to… maybe more?” You feel a little pang of recognition. You’ve seen her around—head down, moving quickly between the dorm and her classes, always alone. She’s the quiet one, the one who never really says much when everyone else is hanging out in the lounge. Now, here she is, putting herself out there, maybe just as lost as you are in this sea of faces. For a moment, you hover over the ‘like’ button. Would she even recognize you?