Why is this text so important to me?

Author’s POV

“It’s been two nights… and Kenneth hasn’t called or even sent a single text. This isn’t like him!” Sonia muttered, perched on the edge of her bed, a white towel tucked over her chest, her damp skin still fresh from her morning shower. Worry clouded her face as she stared blankly at her phone on the nightstand.

“The last time we spoke… was when he invited me to his parents' anniversary.” She let out a sigh and stood, pacing restlessly across the room. “But I turned him down. How could I fly to another country with him when I haven’t even said yes to a proper date here?”

She stopped in front of her full-length mirror, brushing her long hair back over her shoulders. Her reflection showed more than just physical beauty, Sonia’s deep forest-green eyes now shimmered with a mixture of doubt and longing. At 5'2", she was petite, but right now, she felt even smaller in the vast silence left by Kenneth’s absence.

A sudden ping! made her heart jolt. She whipped around and grabbed her phone off the dresser, hope rushing to her cheeks, only to realize there was no notification.

Nothing. Not even a missed call. The sound had been in her head.

Frustrated, she restarted her phone, hoping a delayed message might pop up. Still, nothing. Just the cold silence of the lock screen.

“That saying really is true,” she whispered bitterly. “‘Out of sight, out of mind.’ Maybe I was foolish to believe he truly felt something for me.” She sank onto her bed again, scrolling to find his last message, reading it now felt like clutching a lifeline.

“My dearest Sonia, as the day comes to a close and the world settles into slumber, my thoughts are consumed by you. Even though you declined to come with me for the anniversary, your presence still lingers. I can’t wait to see you again. I’ll be back soon. You are cherished beyond words.”

Her fingers hovered over the screen. “I didn’t even reply to that message,” she whispered. “Could that be why he’s gone so quiet?”

She stood again, pacing faster this time. “But I’ve done worse before. I’ve ignored him. Cancelled plans last minute. He always came back. Always.”

A flicker of panic twisted her gut. “Maybe he’s not back yet. Or maybe something happened. Maybe…”

Her thoughts spiraled as she picked up her phone again and quickly dialed Bridget’s number, Kenneth’s next-door neighbor, and her coworker.

The phone rang twice before Bridget answered cheerfully, “Hey, Sonia! How was your night?”

“I’m okay… You?” Sonia’s voice shook slightly.

“I’m doing great. What’s up?”

“Um… have you seen Kenneth recently?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

“Kenneth? Oh yeah, of course! We actually spoke yesterday. He’s back from his trip.”

Sonia froze. Her breath caught in her throat. “Wait, he’s back? Yesterday?”

“Yep,” Bridget replied lightly. “Why? Do you want me to tell him to call you? Or maybe you wanna come over and see him?”

Sonia’s face paled. “No… I mean… I just thought he wasn’t back yet.” Her voice cracked.

“Oh, no. He’s definitely back. I saw him taking groceries out of the boot of his car yesterday evening. He even looked like he had a bit of a tan,” Bridget added with a laugh.

But Sonia wasn’t laughing. Her fingers tightened around the phone. He had returned. And hadn’t said a word.

Bridget knew just how deeply Kenneth had fallen for Sonia. He’d spoken about her endlessly, and Bridget had often played messenger, delivering roses and gifts on Kenneth’s behalf when Sonia refused to meet him in person.

Now, hearing that Sonia was asking about Kenneth stirred something in Bridget’s heart, curiosity, and maybe even a bit of hope.

“No, I didn’t call to ask you to tell him I asked,” Sonia replied quickly, trying to mask her feelings. “Someone asked me about him earlier, and I said he was out of town. I just wanted to confirm if he’s really back. So, in case they bump into him, I won’t look like a liar. Are you sure he returned?”

“Yes, absolutely. He got back yesterday,” Bridget confirmed warmly. “Why not just give him a call?”

“No, no. Why would I doubt you? I trust you. Thanks, Bridget. See you at work!” Sonia ended the call and stood still for a moment, phone in hand.

She exhaled sharply. “So, he came back yesterday… and didn’t call me.” Her voice was quiet but laced with hurt.

She glanced down at the phone in her hand. “Is he angry because I didn’t go with him? But then… he still sent me that sweet message the day he arrived.” Her brows furrowed. “He said he couldn’t wait to see me. What changed?”

She sat at her vanity and began applying her cream and light makeup, the reflection in the mirror showing more than just her face, it revealed a woman in conflict. “When did I start craving his attention this much? Is it just because he didn’t text me?”

She opened her wardrobe and reached for a simple white gown with red details, a colour combination that always made her feel bold, seen. Dressed and composed, she left her flat, slid into her car, and drove to work.

Sonia worked as the assistant manager at a reputable insurance firm, the same office where fate had first brought Kenneth into her life. He wasn’t a client, just a good brother dropping Bridget off one morning after her car broke down. But Kenneth had noticed her the second she stepped out of her car.

She remembered the way he approached her, respectful but confident, with that boyish charm and a nervous smile that made her smirk. He had asked her out then and there. And she had said… nothing. Not yes, not no. Just walked past him, leaving him standing with hope in his eyes.

He hadn’t stopped trying since. Every day, texts, voicemails, casual visits with Bridget, gifts sent through colleagues. Kenneth had been consistent for almost a year. Sonia had always kept her distance, unsure of what she truly wanted… until now.

Now that he had stopped.

At work, Sonia’s thoughts drifted constantly. She barely heard her coworkers when they spoke. She kept checking her phone during meetings, during breaks, even during her bathroom run. Her heart sank every time she saw the same blank screen.

No messages. No missed calls. No Kenneth.

By lunchtime, she was still in her office, pretending to be busy while everyone else laughed and shared food outside. She had no appetite. Her fingers hovered over her phone screen, tempted to dial his number. But pride held her back.

He should be the one reaching out, she told herself again and again. I never gave him the impression I wanted more. If he truly cares, he’ll try again. He always did before.

When the clock finally hit five, Sonia gathered her things and headed for the car park, her steps slow and heavy. She sat in the driver’s seat for a long minute, phone in hand.

Should she call?

No, she decided. If I call first, it means I’m chasing him. And we’re not even in a relationship. I owe him nothing… right?

With that, she started the engine and drove home.

Later that night, freshly bathed and dressed in her soft cotton pyjamas, Sonia lay on her bed with her phone placed right in front of her, screen facing up, brightness at max. She didn’t want to miss it.

Between 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM. That was when Kenneth always sent his last message of the day.

The wall clock ticked loudly in her quiet room, each second matching the nervous rhythm of her heartbeat. Her eyes were fixed on the time: 9:10… 9:18… 9:24…

Her heart thumped.

“Why is this text so important to me?” she asked aloud, barely above a whisper. “Why does his silence feel louder than a scream?”

The second hand struck 9:30. Still nothing.

Her chest tightened. She turned to her side, curling up with her phone still glowing on the bedsheet. She wasn’t just waiting for a message anymore, she was mourning a routine, a connection, a part of her life that suddenly felt… gone.

And that absence echoed more than she ever expected.