“So Sydney, what’s your deal?” Audrey smiled expectantly.

“My, uh, my deal?” It seemed like an odd question to ask someone.

She tilted her head, like it was a simple question. “You know, who are you? Where are you from? What do you like to do? Why do you like to do it?”

“Oh, you want me to tell you about myself.” I knew I sounded stupid, but I was still kind of waiting for her to realize she had sat down with the wrong kind of person, and leave.

But she didn’t. Instead she nodded and said the weirdest thing, “I’m not very good at making friends, so sorry if this is kind of weird.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, except the truth, “No it’s fine. I’m not good at it either. Actually I’m terrible at it.”

She looked so relieved when I said that. It seems silly, but the fact that my words could have any kind of affect on someone, is what made me tell her my “deal.” Then she told me her’s. And now I find myself in a coffee shop with her 3 days later, talking and laughing. Acting like friends.