AllFreeNovel
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8 min.
He wrote this eight minutes ago. Is he still on? How do I. . .
There’s a green dot next to his email in the chat list on the left-hand side.
He’s still logged on.
I feel a sudden rush of excitement. What do I do? Do I respond? How do I make sure to stay anonymous? Wait. Does he see my green dot? If so, will he. . .
A new message pops up.
Practical:
Sorry, maybe picking chat was a bit bold. We can stick to email.
He sees my green dot.
My mind randomly flashes to the ball scene in Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. I’ve read it so many times I could recite it. Poor Kitty, dancing in the arms of someone she doesn't care about, watching her love, Count Vronsky, begin to fall for the beautiful, passionate Anna. It’s crushing to see her heart break in that scene, hearing her realize that whatever she and Vronsky had was over after that dance.
Then, something dawns on me.
Kitty ends up with Levin. Not Vronsky.
He’s the practical one. He’s the realist. He’s the farmer.
Levin’s love for Kitty is patient. Their relationship is complicated, even contentious at times. She denies his initial proposal because she’s holding out for someone else, something else that doesn’t work out. He’s turned down flat, but still he waited. And after they’ve grown, after they find each other again, they forgive and love each other more easily than Anna and Vronsky ever do.
Levin and Kitty don’t have the bombastic romantic rollercoaster of Anna and Vronsky. . . but their love is powerful and true, nonetheless.
With this revelation, I type.
Hopeful:
Bold, yes. But it’s okay.
My date hardly talked, and when he did, it was random knowledge about a fantasy movie.
Practical:
I’m guessing you like romance movies better?
I smile as I type the next sentence:
Hopeful:
Let’s just say Pride and Prejudice is in my top six.
I see three tiny dots appear then disappear at the bottom of the chat box. Oddly, I don’t want him to leave the conversation yet, so I keep going.
Hopeful:
You still swearing off romance? After one little defeat?
I hope she’s worth fighting for!
Practical:
It was pretty humiliating. But no, I’m not giving up quite yet. She absolutely is worth it. What do you think I should do?
