He’d known her for what seemed like forever. Hours talking through the magic of keyboards and monitors, but she’d never let him see her, never meeting. As close as he reckoned, she only lived a few suburbs away. She was very careful online to maintain her privacy, for her safety, she’d told him, which he understood.

Now they would meet. Finally. He sat in the cafe waiting for her entry in a long red coat she said she’d wear.

She was pretty, not pretentious, a real person. They talked, and talked, nothing awkward, no discomfort, as good as it had been online. They ate, a wonderful meal, and he thought that he’d be honoured to spend many more moments in her company, perhaps a lifetime if it ever got to that point.

After dinner they walked by the seaside, holding hands. Sitting on the seat overlooking the water, she kissed him on the mouth. Fully. Then he felt her hand on his crotch.

He calmly pushed her hand away, stood, sadly kissed her forehead, and walked away.

He wouldn’t do it that way again…