It’s 6:50 p.m. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I’m sitting on a couch eating Oreos and roaming around online while I listen to the first silence I’ve heard in a day and a half. We’re here for a dear friend’s wedding, seeing old buddies, making new ones, and eating cupcakes from Queen’s City Bakery.

As we were walking to our next stop, I said to Elliot, “I’m like an iPhone and I’m down to 20%. I need some time to plug back in.” There was no better analogy. He got it. We went back to where we’re staying; he left and I planted on the couch.

Just being alone, even for an hour, is like plugging me into an outlet and recharging my battery. I love talking, love seeing friends, love catching up, but no matter how much I love the people (sometimes the more I love them the quicker I drain because I give them everything I’ve got) social situations take a lot out of me and solitude puts me back together. And Oreos don’t hurt.