“Hello,” said the horse, slightly nervously.

Carol straightened herself up, put on her best smile, and turned around. “Oh… hello..?” She wavered.

“It’s me, Paul,” said the horse, “from Hinge.” His consonants were slightly muffled, owing to the pink rose wedged between his teeth. He was wearing a blue bow tie and trousers. He wore an earnest and endearing smile across his big, horse-shaped head.

“Paul..?” asked Carol, tenatively. He didn’t look much like his profile picture. “You look… different.”

“Well, nor do you!”

Bashfully, Carol ran her flipper through her hair.