In the quiet of night, as the world sleeps, an inadequate man lies awake, lost in the depths of his thoughts. He is not inadequate by the standards of society—he works, he lives, and he functions like any other man. But in his heart, he feels a void, a deep-seated sense of not being enough. This feeling isn’t about material possessions or achievements; it’s about something far more intimate and personal. It’s about his worth in the eyes of the woman he dreams of, the woman who embodies everything he desires but believes he does not deserve.

This woman,

in his mind, is the epitome of adequacy. She is strong, confident, and unwavering in her convictions. Her presence is like a beacon of light in his otherwise dim world. She moves through life with grace, her steps measured and purposeful, her smile warm and inviting. She is the kind of woman who draws attention not because she seeks it, but because she naturally commands it. People are drawn to her, not just because of her beauty but because of the strength she exudes—a strength he admires but feels he cannot match.

In his dreams,

this man imagines what life would be like with her by his side. He pictures them walking together, hand in hand, through the journey of life. He envisions her support and encouragement, how she would lift him when he falters, and how her belief in him could help him believe in himself. He sees a future where her adequacy fills the gaps in his self-perception, where her love gives him the strength to be more than he ever thought possible.

But as beautiful as these dreams are, they are tinged with a sense of melancholy. For this man, these dreams are just that—dreams. In his waking hours, he doubts his ability to attract and keep such a woman. He sees himself as inadequate, not because he lacks the qualities she might desire, but because he lacks the belief that he could be enough for her. His insecurities are a heavy burden, weighing him down, and making him feel like he is unworthy of the kind of love he yearns for.

He wonders if she would see him the way he sees himself. Would she notice the cracks in his armor, the flaws he tries so hard to hide? Would she be disappointed to discover that beneath the surface, he is just an ordinary man with ordinary fears and weaknesses? Or would she, in her adequacy, see something in him that he cannot see in himself? Could she love him not despite his inadequacies but because of them?

This thought brings him a sliver of hope. Perhaps, he thinks, an adequate woman does not seek a perfect man. Perhaps she seeks a man who is real, who is willing to acknowledge his flaws and work on them. Perhaps what he sees as inadequacies are simply the marks of a man who has lived, who has struggled, and who is still trying to find his place in the world. Perhaps, in her eyes, his imperfections make him human, and it is this humanity that she would find most endearing.

Still, the fear of rejection looms large. The inadequate man is afraid to reach out, to take the chance that this woman, this paragon of adequacy, might see something worthwhile in him. He hesitates, caught in a cycle of self-doubt, afraid to risk the pain of finding out that his worst fears are true—that he is, indeed, not enough.

Yet, he continues to dream. Because in his dreams, he is not inadequate. In his dreams, he is loved and accepted by the woman who, in his eyes, is everything he wishes he could be. And maybe, just maybe, those dreams will give him the courage to one day take a step toward making them a reality. To speak to her, to show her who he is, and to find out if, perhaps, she has been dreaming of him too.