Going to the party

I ended up deciding to go.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but once I made it, I figured I might as well commit to it.

I didn’t want to show up looking like I’d spent weeks planning some elaborate costume, so I kept it simple. A dark shirt, jeans, a few cheap accessories I’d picked up earlier that day. Nothing impressive, but enough that I could walk into a Halloween party without looking like I had completely ignored the theme.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

“Good enough.”

I grabbed my phone and wallet.

For a second, I thought about calling Sarah.

Then I stopped.

I hadn’t told her about the party.

It wasn’t because I was planning on doing anything behind her back. I didn’t even know what the night would be like.

I just knew how Sarah could get when she worried about me. If I told her I was going to some Halloween party full of college students, she’d probably spend the whole night wondering who was there and what I was doing.

I didn’t want that.

So I left it alone.

I’d call her tomorrow like I normally did.

I slipped my phone into my pocket and headed out.

As I walked across campus, I could already see people dressed up and heading toward parties.

For once, I wasn’t watching from the outside.

I was actually going somewhere.

And despite the little bit of nervousness in my stomach, I was looking forward to it.