Tyler had always been a bit of a loner, and Valentine's Day just seemed to emphasize that fact. He had never had a girlfriend, and he didn't have any prospects for one either. He resented the holiday and all the pressure it put on people to find someone special.
So, on the morning of Valentine's Day, Tyler made a snap decision. He would get as far away from the city as possible, and he wouldn't come back until the holiday was over. He packed a small bag and headed to the train station, not even sure where he was going.
As the train pulled out of the station, Tyler leaned his head back against the seat and let out a sigh of relief. He had done it - he had escaped Valentine's Day.
But as the train rolled on, Tyler started to feel a bit restless. He had nothing to do, nowhere to be, and no one to talk to. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his social media feeds, watching as couple after couple posted pictures of their romantic Valentine's Day plans.
He was just about to turn off his phone and give up on the whole day when a girl sat down across from him.
"Hi," she said, smiling at him.
Tyler looked up, surprised. He hadn't even noticed her come in. "Uh, hi," he said, a little awkwardly.
The girl's name was Maya, and they struck up a conversation about the usual small talk topics - the weather, the train, their jobs. But as they talked, Tyler realized that he was actually enjoying himself.
Maya was funny, smart, and easy to talk to. He found himself opening up to her in a way he rarely did with anyone else. They spent the rest of the train ride talking, laughing, and sharing stories.
When they arrived at their destination, Tyler and Maya exchanged phone numbers and said goodbye. Tyler was surprised to find that he was actually disappointed - he had really enjoyed talking to her, and he wasn't sure when he would see her again.
As he wandered around the town, Tyler found himself thinking about Maya more and more. He couldn't believe how easy it had been to talk to her, and he realized that he had been missing out on something by avoiding Valentine's Day.
A few weeks later, Tyler got a text from Maya. She was in town and wanted to know if he wanted to meet up. Tyler eagerly agreed, and they made plans to get coffee at a local café.
As they sat together sipping their drinks, Tyler realized that he was starting to feel something more than just friendship for Maya. He wasn't sure if he was ready to admit it to himself, but he was pretty sure that he was falling in love with her.
They spent the rest of the day exploring the city together, laughing and joking around like old friends. When it was time for Maya to catch her train back to her grandmother's, Tyler felt a sense of sadness. He didn't want the day to end, and he didn't want to say goodbye to Maya.
But before she left, Maya turned to him and said, "Tyler, I know we've only known each other for a short time, but I feel like we have a real connection. I don't want this to be just a one-time thing. Will you be my Valentine?"
Tyler's heart swelled with happiness. He realized that he had found something he had been trying to avoid all along - love. And he was grateful for it.
"Of course," he said, smiling at her. "I'd love to be your Valentine."
As they hugged each other goodbye, Tyler knew that he had found something special. He had gone
