I thought it was the perfect plan: a walk on the boardwalk after work with Jenna, my coworker. We had talked about going out a few times, so I was excited. But when dark clouds rolled in, our stroll quickly turned into a mad dash for shelter.

We found a small souvenir shop and squeezed inside just as the rain started pouring. It was packed and noisy, but there we stood, awkward and quiet. Jenna kept glancing at me, waiting for something to say, but I just wanted the rain to stop.

The silence was heavy. I kept thinking, "Why can't I find the words?" I even tried to joke about the weather, but it fell flat. I thought she might be upset or bored.

Here's the thing: I wasn’t even sure I was with Jenna at all. When I first saw her waiting, she looked so much like another friend. I got confused because I wasn’t expecting this date to happen today. So, I held back, afraid to mess things up. That’s why I was so quiet. It was the worst first date—and the most misunderstood.