finally did a video call and my face hurts from smiling

jumped on a video call last night and i'm still kind of buzzing from it. we’ve been texting for about three weeks now, and while the banter was great, i was starting to get that "is this actually going anywhere" feeling. texting is fine for the basics, but you can't really feel someone's energy through a screen of glowing blue bubbles. i was honestly pretty nervous right before i hit the call button—worried about awkward silences or that weird lag where you both talk at the same time and then apologize for five minutes straight.

but the second she popped up on the screen, all that anxiety just kind of evaporated. she was sitting on her couch with a messy bun and this giant mug of coffee, and she just had this huge, genuine smile. she has this way of crinkling her nose when she laughs that you just don't see in static profile pictures. it made everything feel... legitimate. like she's a real person with a life and a voice, not just some concept on my phone.

we ended up talking for two hours. it wasn't even deep, life-altering stuff, just rambling about our days and showing each other our pets (her dog is a chaotic mess, i love him). i've been doing a lot of reading on dating american girl lately because the vibe is just so much more direct than what i'm used to. there’s this specific kind of upbeat energy and "tell it like it is" attitude that i really dig. there was no guessing games or trying to play it cool; she was just herself, and it was a breath of fresh air.

here is why the video chat changed everything for me:

at one point, her cat decided to walk right across her keyboard and accidentally muted her. we both just sat there cracking up for a minute while she tried to fix it. it’s those little, unscripted human moments that make you realize you're actually building a connection with someone. i'm definitely way more invested now than i was yesterday.

honestly, if you’re stuck in that endless texting loop, just ask for the call. it’s scary for like five seconds and then it’s the best thing ever. it’s funny how a screen can make you feel closer to someone thousands of miles away than people you see in your own neighborhood. i'm already looking forward to the next one. maybe we'll actually watch a movie together or do a "virtual dinner" thing. i used to think that stuff was cheesy, but when you actually like the person, it just feels right. just feeling really good about where this is going and glad i took the leap.