16

AMBER|

Before I knew it, I was swept into a whirlwind. I shook hands. I didn’t couldn’t trace faces too, I got pecked on the cheeks but women I had never even met, I shook hands with strong bulky men and even got myself a glass of wine. It all was happening really fast but I couldn’t deny the feeling of warmth that settled inside of me at being a part of something—whatever it was.

Back at home, I’d always been left out. And no one cared that I was alone but with people I'd only just met, it felt really different.

They wanted to hear me talk. They wanted to know everything about me. They wanted to listen to me. It was all new and surreal for me and I basked in the attention I got.

I would lie if I said I didn’t like it here.

I learnt a few things about them too. Carmen was mated to one of the men there and she gushed about him in every discussion we had.

The other women seemed really happy and excited to talk about their mates too. I envied them so much and listened to everything t