Awkward is what they call you when you don’t follow the rules like everyone else. The hard part about that is that most of the rules are unspoken, which is the exact opposite of what you need, so do you have time to answer my questions?
Awkward is undeniable. Yes, I just met you, but that doesn’t mean if I walk by you again that I want to make eye contact with you or keep talking to you, and that doesn’t feel rude to me, if I’m being honest. I need to sit back and observe some things, so that might make me come off as passive or disinterested, but I promise I want to talk to you- at some point- when the situation is right, but not right now. Maybe come sit with me, and we can have a conversation after I’ve warmed up to you?
Awkward is inevitable, especially when everything is new, but that’s okay. It’s great even. We’re all kind of awkward in the beginning, and being awkward is like adjacent to being weird, and we’re all just looking for someone to match our weirdness, you know? Over time, I’ve learned to make it into some good comedy bits, and everyone loves a funny person, right? To live is to be awkward and to make mistakes, and while you probably want to help me, the only thing I actually need from you is patience and understanding while I experience things at my own pace.
Not to make this awkward or anything, but I don’t know what else to say. Bye.
Nicholas & Aspen
We are two friends who originally met through work and bonded over our similarites between our two diagnoses.
