I Briefly Stepped Into This Single Gay Man’s World

I experienced moments of silence and peachy farewells

One of my friends, L, broke up with her girlfriend over the phone during our trip to Oslo. After running out of comforting words, we ended up having a few expensive beers at the London Pub.

I was slightly tipsy, resting my face on my hand and watching the boys walk by. There was also a couple at the table in front of us, gradually snuggling into each other’s arms. It made me feel a mix of sweetness and then a wave of bitter stomach acid.

On my way to the bathroom, a man in a hat seemed to glance at me a few times, making my shoulders feel heavy. But I figured it was just the alcohol, so I washed my face at the sink and tried not to overthink it.

When I came out of the bathroom, the man was standing in front of me, extending his hand, slightly blocking my way. I looked at his face under the hat, saw that he was smiling, quickly wiped my hands on my pants, and shook his hand.

We chatted for a bit, and I realized we were blocking the restroom, so I moved forward, ready to return to my seat. He followed me. Feeling a bit excited and nervous, I awkwardly told him that my friend wasn’t feeling well.

After introducing ourselves, I noticed L was still in a bad state, so I explained the situation to him. He nodded, sat next to L, and chatted with her quietly. I could see L nodding frequently. I was left with the other…