Holding Hands in the Dim Hallway at a House Party

Holding Hands in the Dim Hallway at a House Party

I was at a crowded house party that felt like a mix of my college apartment and my current living room. My partner was in the kitchen talking to some people, but I was standing in a dim hallway with someone I used to work with years ago. We were standing way too close, talking quietly, and then he reached out and took my hand. I felt this intense rush of guilt and excitement, but instead of pulling away, I squeezed his hand back. Then I heard my partner call my name from the kitchen to ask where the bottle opener was. I panicked, tried to yank my hand back, but our fingers felt completely stuck together, like moving through molasses. I finally pulled free just as my partner walked around the corner carrying two beers. I felt completely flushed and terrified they could tell just by looking at me, but they just smiled and handed me a drink. I woke up with my heart pounding, feeling awful even though nothing actually happened.