Late Shift Loneliness

Tonight, as the city slept and I worked my night shift at the diner, I found myself slipping into a state of longing. The quiet hum of the kitchen appliances was all too familiar, but tonight it felt different, like everything was echoing my inner emptiness. As I cleaned up after another customer’s leftovers, I dialed a number programmed in under “Master”, our code for when I need to be reminded that despite the loneliness of this job, there's someone out there who understands me better than anyone else. We talked briefly, and as we ended the call, he suggested a weekend playdate at his place. His voice was soothing but distant, reminding me it’s all about play, no real connection beyond the roleplay. It left me wondering if this is normal for people like us, or if I should seek something more real outside of our little games.