My Date Gave Me

When the narrator matched with Aaron on a dating app, she was instantly smitten by his charm, good looks, and thoughtful conversation. Their texts were engaging and sincere, especially after bonding over a shared love for Beauty and the Beast. When he asked her to dinner at a romantic Italian restaurant, it felt like a fairytale coming to life. The date went smoothly, filled with laughter and genuine connection. Everything seemed perfect—until dessert, when Aaron handed her a single red rose, not as a sweet gesture, but as part of his personal dating “system” modeled after The Bachelor.

Aaron explained that he gives roses to women who “make it to the next round,” treating dating like a reality show competition. Shocked and disappointed, the narrator realized he wasn’t her Prince Charming, but a man turning love into a game. When he left the table, she paid the bill herself, walked out, and blocked him after receiving a smug follow-up message. That night, she didn’t just walk away from a bad date—she walked away empowered, realizing that sometimes the real win is knowing when to walk away from someone who isn’t right.