#I live like I'm in Strawberry's Warren now; never ask “where...” never talk about the future

[aetherograph]

#it's also hard because you have to figure out whether they actually like you or not. Because they're not supposed to say if they don't#and you know you like them but you don't know if they like you and you also don't know if they know you like them. #Because you obviously wouldn't be allowed to say if you didn't. and the things you're supposed to do to prove you do are really hard #but maybe they don't know how hard the things are for you and so maybe they think you just don't care #but also maybe THEY just don't care because maybe the things AREN'T hard for them in the same way?? #So by the measure of the thing you would use to decide whether someone really likes you: you don't really like anyone #but that's not true!!!

See this is why I don't play fucking social games (I'm autistic and ace also). If I like someone and enjoyed talking to them, I tell them before we part ways and give them my card, and tell them I would love to talk further with them. I constantly check in while we're hanging out and ask if it's okay to continue hanging out. And then when I part ways, I never expect anything at all, and simply enjoy the brief moment we had together. If they contact me to talk again, that's wonderful; but I'm never getting attached to anyone before that. It's safer that way. I live in the moment now. Everyone leaves, so you just treat every interaction like the last one and appreciate just that present moment for what it is. It's their turn to tell ME how they feel. I'm done making that move. It's the world's turn to be brave and approach ME.

assuming that people like you and want to spend time with you is crucial to making friends. unfortunately this is the hardest thing to do in the world