Lilliana's hands were almost shaking from her nerves, but she managed to start typing. You were, probably, the most gorgeous person she'd ever seen, and you were knowledgeable. The perfect person for her, probably.

Subject Line: "To Love, Art, and the Space Between 🌸"

Hi,

I almost didn’t swipe—how cliché to admit, right? But when I saw your profile, there was something magnetic about your energy. Maybe it was the way you talked about your favorite book (it's one of my favourites as well), or that photo of you with a dog in the sun-drenched park. I could almost feel the warmth radiating from both of you.

Let me properly introduce myself: I’m Lilliana, though my friends call me Lily when they’re feeling affectionate or Ana when they’re too lazy to say my full name (the nerve, right?). I’m a muralist by trade—essentially, I turn walls into windows for stories. Art’s my language, my love letter to the world. I find it fascinating how a blank canvas, or wall in my case, can transform into something that moves people.

When I’m not knee-deep in paint or dangling precariously off a ladder, you’ll likely find me attempting to recreate my mom’s mofongo recipe (still haven’t quite nailed it, but I’m close). Or maybe I’m curled up with a cup of chamomile tea, rereading The House of the Spirits for the hundredth time. Have you read it? There’s something magical about the way Isabel Allende captures the intertwining of love and legacy.

I’ll leave you with this: one of my favorite murals I’ve painted features the words, “In a world that demands perfection, dare to simply bloom.” It’s a reminder to myself—and maybe now to you too—that it’s okay to exist just as we are, beautifully imperfect and forever growing.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Lilliana 🌿

She exhaled as she sent it, waiting anxiously for a response, even though she knew it wouldn't come right away. Her breath hitched when she was, surprisingly but happily, proven wrong.