Tell me a Story

He lashed out. His fist smashing into my jaw sending violent reverberations throughout my bones. I collapsed in a heap on the ground. "No more," I weeped. But he would not cease his relentless assault. I cried out for someone to help but none would. They just sat in shock, recoiling backwards, their cutlery now on the floor. Some stared open mouthed, spaghetti bolognaise tumbling out of their open gobs. I lay curled up in a ball on the restaurant floor. My attacker hunched over me, fists clenched. "How dare you insult me," screamed the man. "It was only a joke," I pleaded feebly. That was the last time I would try on-line dating I promised myself. I had recently just came out of the closet and had begun dating men. Being too shy and bashful to approach any in the well known hot spots around town, I tried on-line dating. Boy, was that a mistake. My date had reacted very aggressively when I had called him sex obsessed. Well what was I to do, there was no romance to the affair, he just kept on cracking crude jokes and his speech was littered with sex innuendos. I just wanted a man to hug, to kiss to caress. I didn't just want to be some slab of meat, some sex object. So I promised never to try on-line dating again, but soon I found myself drawn back to the web out of curiosity. I had heard it was the perfect place to meet your soul mate, so I went back. I browsed the profile of a man from Essex. His name was Jonathon. He was a builder and played soccer at his local club. Sounded good I thought. So I went out on a date with him. I arranged to meet him in the pub before we went to the cinema. We got to know each and hit it off instantly. He was very outgoing and had no reservations about public displays of affection. He gave me a hug in the pub while everyone starred. I felt both embarrassed and relieved at the same time. He made me feel so at ease. So I stopped resisting and embraced the hug.