Aeris never expected much from Kade.
He had warned her clearly, "Don’t expect anything. Not even a hello."
But it was always followed by something else.. something quiet, unspoken, and opposite of what he said.
Because the truth?
He did reply when she texted.
He did notice her silences.
He even once said, “Check the chat history. If I stopped texting, you wouldn’t message again, would you?”
She smiled at that. It meant he noticed.
But he’d never admit it.
Sometimes, Aeris would ask playfully, "If I go quiet, will you still talk?"
Kade would shoot back, "What?"
And when she pressed further, he'd reply, "Don’t expect. Don’t overthink."
Yet, when she apologized for saying too much, he’d respond softly,
"Say whatever your heart wants. I don’t mind."
So which version was real?
The one who warned her to let go…
or the one who never really let her go?
Then came the silence.
A whole day passed. No message. No reply.
And this time, it stung.
Because he’d never done that before.
She didn’t want to assume.
Maybe he was busy. Maybe not online.
But deep down, it felt different. Cold. Final.
Still, she remembered the night before.. how he hadn’t eaten.
She had said before bed, "Take care of yourself, and don’t skip your meals."
He replied, "Let’s see what I do with meals."
And then… nothing.
Now, she stared at the empty screen.
Wondering if she had misread it all.
If his contradictions were actually clear signs…
That maybe she was the only one holding on.
But still.. there was something in the way he never said goodbye.
