My anxiety is setting in. I had never been more nervous. Do I wear a dress? Something more casual? It’s only coffee. What kind of shoes? Heels? Flats? The options seemed endless.

My anxiety is building. I keep checking the time. I was ready an hour early. 6:00. I check again. 6:03. Again, 6:05. I was convinced this clock was moving slower than normal.

My anxiety is building. I’m pacing back and forth and back and forth. I can literally feel my heart racing. I become more aware of my breathing. I begin to rethink the entire night and consider calling the whole thing off.  I continue to pace back and forth and back and forth.

My anxiety is building. I got ready too early. I gave myself too much time to think, and to overthink. There is really nothing to stress over, but that doesn’t stop me from doing so. What if I make myself look foolish? What if I have bad breath? I brush my teeth for the third time.

My anxiety is building. 6:50. Time to leave. I get in the car, my heart still racing, my palms sweaty. I pull into the parking lot and take my keys out of the ignition. Then I consider putting them right back in and speeding back home and making up some lame excuse. No. I’ve come this far and I begin to walk towards the door.

And then I see him. He smiles. I smile. My anxiety is gone.