My Mom Says I Should Date In College Because It’s Hard to Find People Afterwards and I Take It to Heart

Go trap a lover early on

with your youth and vivacity and charming personality

because once college ends

the world ceases to be your oyster

and you become embroiled

in office environments with

married people

and those are off the table,

you know,

so really, honey,

you've got to strike

while the iron is hot.

So now I'm desperate,

waiting on a text back to prove

I'm a worthy mating candidate,

glued to my phone for validation -

I have been for a shameful amount of time now -

and I think the worst part

is that I really am just lonely,

nothing deeper,

and I really cannot blame my mother

for telling me to hurry up

and try my luck

being vulnerable.