He’d matched with Lila on a dating app, a woman whose photos radiated warmth and confidence—dark curls, bright eyes, and a laugh that seemed to leap off the screen. Their chats were effortless, flirty, and full of promise. When they finally met at a cozy bistro downtown, Lila’s face lit up as Ethan walked in. “Wow,” she thought, taking in his easy stride and tailored look. “He’s even better in person.”

They settled into a booth, and the conversation flowed—until Ethan’s insecurity crept in. “You know, I’m only 5’9,” he said, unprompted, as they sipped their drinks. “I bet you usually go for taller guys, huh? Like, 6’2 or something.” Lila blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, no, I don’t really care about that,” she said with a reassuring smile. “You’re plenty handsome.”

But Ethan didn’t let it go. As they ordered appetizers, he mused, “Tall guys probably have it easier, don’t they? They just walk into a room and own it.” Lila’s smile faltered, but she nodded politely, trying to steer the topic elsewhere. She asked about his hobbies, his job, but Ethan kept circling back. “I mean, I do okay, but if I was taller, I’d probably be unstoppable,” he said, chuckling nervously.

The waiter, a kind-eyed guy named Sam, brought their meals—a grilled salmon for Lila, a steak for Ethan. As Sam set the plates down, Ethan leaned forward with a grin. “Hey, was this meal cooked on the grill of tall men?” he asked, winking. Sam paused, unsure how to respond, then gave a tight-lipped smile and walked away. Lila cringed, her fork hovering over her plate.

The date limped on. When Lila’s salad arrived, Ethan pointed at it and said, “Now *that* looks like a tall man salad!” He laughed, but Lila’s expression hardened. She set her fork down, her patience worn thin. “Ethan,” she said, voice steady but sharp, “why do you keep talking about height? You’re great just as you are, but it’s like you’re obsessed.”

Ethan’s face flushed, but before he could respond, Lila stood, grabbing her purse. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this,” she said. Without another word, she stormed out, leaving Ethan alone at the table, staring at his untouched steak.

He sank back in his seat, the weight of the moment settling in. He turned red at the thought of her leaving him to seek taller men. Ethan pulled out his phone and immediately started poasting on Reddit and AutoAdmit.com about how short men can’t get women and he was just rejected because of his height.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5712867&forum_id=2:#48860295)