Miles Apart: Drag Shows, Buff Dude, and Mysterious Gifts

Unexpected surprises, connections, and the one who got away.

Miles Apart: Drag Shows, Buff Dude, and Mysterious Gifts

1/17/2025

Dear Charlie,

I finally made it to that drag show I couldn’t stop talking about, and wow, what an experience. The energy was electric! Glitter, sequins, and heels higher than my chances of acing any math test.

The performances were top notch and the crowd played a huge part in the excitement. People were cheering, singing, chair dancing, and tips were aflowin’. I joined in with a few bills for a queen who absolutely slayed her Britney Spears, Work Bitch routine. She deserved every penny for that death drop alone.

But as you know, I get pulled into stories just as much as performances. I ended up sitting next to these two guys who had a story straight out of a movie.

They hadn’t seen each other in years and reconnected for what might be their last night together. One of them was only in town for a couple of days, and after that night, who knows when they’ll cross paths again.

Turns out, they’ve taken wildly different paths since they split. Brad, the one who seemed like the life of the party, admitted he got married last year to a woman. “I always thought I’d end up with a guy, but life’s funny like that,” he told me with a shrug, sipping his cocktail. “She doesn’t know about my past... or him.” He tilted his head toward Dylan, who just rolled his eyes.

Dylan, on the other hand, hasn’t had another serious relationship since Brad. “Why bother?” he said with a laugh that didn’t quite meet his eyes. “A string of flings is less messy than what we had.”

Brad shot back, “Less messy or less meaningful?”

The tension was thick, but there was an undeniable spark between them. After a few cocktails, they were reminiscing, laughing, and even dancing together like no time had passed. Still, you could tell there were some wounds that hadn’t quite healed.

By the end of the night, they spoke about cherishing their time together and that really hit me. It was beautiful and bittersweet. I couldn’t stop thinking about it later that night or the next day.

That’s how my new song called, “The Night Was Ours to Keep” came to life. It’s about “the one who got away.” You know, the kind of love that feels just out of reach, whether it’s because of timing, distance, or the weight of the world’s opinions.

Buff Dude and the Mysterious Gifts

When I told Keri, the ever-enthusiastic manager of my store, about my experience and the song I wrote, she couldn’t help but get worked up about buff dude.

She said, “You might just be letting this hottie get away!” She even listed all his “green flags” based on what she could tell from a distance:

• Has a job right next door to my shop (or maybe just does yoga there obsessively).

• In great shape.

• Friendly and kind.

• A TOTAL HOTTIE!

Of course, she says I should flirt with him and shoot my shot. Sure, he’s objectively handsome, if you’re into muscles the size of small boulders. But me? Not really my type. Plus, I can’t even picture him being interested in someone who spends her nights eating popcorn and writing songs about past loves.

He doesn’t give off any flirtatious vibes when we’ve had our brief encounters. So, I think it’s more likely your suggestion of a secret admirer from afar, or maybe even a wannabe sugar daddy who sent the gift off of my Amazon wish list. I still can’t think of anyone else to ask who sent that. Just writing the words sugar daddy makes me chuckle.

Last night another gift arrived!! This time, it wasn’t something small like the herb grinder. Oh no, this gift was worth a lot. Like, $700 kind of “a lot.” I immediately asked around again to see if any friends or family sent it with not a one confession… yet.

I’m not sure which theory of yours is weirder, but I’m gonna be digging deeper to find out who’s being so generous. SO AMAZINGLY GENEROUS!

First, I get that mysterious letter, and now these mysterious gifts… what is even going on in my life right now? Feeling blessed and a mess all rolled into one.

My thoughts are miles apart from my reality, as I contemplate the mystery of these gifts and the excitement from that drag show.

Xo, Ana

P.S. Charlie, you won’t believe this, another package just showed up as I’m writing this. No note again. Whoever this is, they’ve officially upped the stakes. I’ll keep you posted with my ongoing investigation!

---

The Miles Apart Series is based on Ana’s desire to bring back the excitement of handwritten letters. Start with this short introduction post to learn more.

You can find all these letters under my Stories section.

Offering: Stories, GeekOut, Human Design, and Recipes.