You go on a date with Vicki

Vicki and I had experienced quite an intimate evening with one another the night before. I felt my heart leap with joy as I realized I was anxious for our date the following day. I yearned to hold her close, pick her up off of the ground, and show her just how much I admired her beauty.

The night leading up to our date seemed full of passionate energy, and as I watched her sleep peacefully I held her and whispered kind words in her ear; my heart filled with admiration and emotion.

The following day, Vicki had chosen to wear a beautiful red button down dress, and as I embraced her with a wide smile, I admired how confidently she walked with her head held high and her arms up in pride. She was showing her pride as an Asian woman, who was dating a white man.

We ventured out into the evening and went to an exquisite restaurant where we walked arm in arm. Vicki seemed to beam with delight over our connection and as we walked by, I could see that individuals around us had taken notice. I could particularly sense several eyes of Asian men upon us, watching her closely as if she was nothing more than just another Asian woman with a white man.

Vicki and I had made it a pattern in our relationship to exchange meaningful conversation over dinner, and that night was no exception. As we spoke, I began to observe a subtle feeling of disapproval from the Asian men standing nearby. I asked Vicki if she noticed the stares, to which she replied 'Yes, and it's so difficult to not feel like I am being judged. Do you feel it too?'. I kindly replied to her with a sincere look and an earnest tone in my voice, 'It's okay honey, this is your decision, and I understand the courage it takes for you to be so proud to have a white boyfriend like me'.

This acknowledgement from me brought a sparkle to Vicki's eyes. I could tell she was taken aback by my response and she grasped my hand a little tighter as we walked out the door, smiling in mutual understanding.

As we continued to walk arm in arm, the gazes of the Asian men we had encountered that night lingered in the background, but the experience did not feel nearly as oppressive as it had a few moments earlier. I think in that moment, we both understood that no matter what people thought of us, we were able to make our own decisions. That is the beauty of us all - we are always allowed to choose who we want on date with.

In a way, I believe that the stares and the situation we were in that night empowered Vicki more than if she was walking with another Asian man. She was able to be open and honest with her choice in having a white boyfriend, and in doing so, she also reinforced her strength as an individual who holds authority over her own life.

At the end of the date, I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead as a way of expressing my admiration for the courage which she held.