has technology killed romance?

i turned on my phone & checked for anything - voicemail, a text message. some sign that he was thinking about me. i didn't find one.

& i thought, "i'm so done with this. you're like every guy i've ever dated, all in one body. & there is a reason i left them."

i thought, "if he doesn't need this, neither will i."

so i text him simply, nondescriptly but loudly, "this isn't going to work."

i turned my phone back off.

after about an hour of not sleeping, i turn my phone on to read his oblivious text message, "what isn't?"

he waited ten minutes for me to reply before calling. i listen to the voicemail, where he drunkenly slurs all his questions.

he says, "i'm not really sure what you mean by that text message, but it looks like you're not willing to answer so whatever. but i'm always around you know, if you want to talk or whatever. i guess i'll talk to you later."

his tone was upset in that despondent sort of way, because deep down he knows it.

this is the part where i prove him right. where i leave him, because i gave up. where i hurt him like he always knew i would.

& the truth is, i'm not kind enough to confirm or deny these assumptions tonight.

i hope you have nightmares.

before & after