Dear Stranger

Dear Stranger,

On a different day, a good day, I would make eye contact with you.  I would smile.  I would greet you using my soft, put-any-stranger-at-ease voice.  You would talk to me.  I would try to make you laugh, and you probably would.  We might never see each other again, but I would part ways with you feeling improved by the exchange we shared.

Today, on a bad day, every fiber of my being cries out to the universe, "Please, please, please, please, please don't speak to me!"  You, dear stranger, terrify me.

"Social anxiety disorder: Also called social phobia, social anxiety disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centers on a fear of being judged by others, or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule." webmd.com

You are probably a lovely person.  I hope I meet you on a good day.

Sincerely,

Lily