For the first time in weeks…
There were no messages.
Ava glanced at her phone for what had to be the sixth time that morning.
Nothing.
No unknown number.
No short teasing text.
No "Good morning."
No "You're overthinking again."
Just silence.
She frowned and slipped the phone back into her handbag.
"Good," she whispered to herself. "This is exactly what I wanted."
So why did it feel so… strange?
The office was unusually busy that Monday morning.
Phones rang nonstop.
Employees hurried from one department to another.
Ava buried herself in paperwork, determined not to think about Ethan.
Every few minutes, however, her eyes drifted toward the entrance without her permission.
Each time the door opened, a tiny part of her expected to see him.
Each time it wasn't him…
Something inside her sank just a little.
She hated that feeling.
"Lunch?" her colleague, Emily, asked.
Ava looked up.
"I have work."
Emily laughed.
"You've been saying that every day. Come on, you need a break."
After a moment's hesitation, Ava nodded.
"Fine."
The restaurant was only a few streets away.
Emily chatted excitedly about a new television series she had started watching, but Ava barely listened.
She kept checking her phone.
Still nothing.
Emily noticed.
"Waiting for someone?"
"What? No."
"You've looked at your phone at least ten times."
"I have not."
Emily smiled knowingly.
"If you say so."
After lunch, they walked back toward the office.
As they reached the entrance, a familiar black luxury sedan pulled into the parking lot.
Ava's heart skipped.
It couldn't be…
The driver's door opened.
A tall man stepped out.
For one hopeful second…
She thought it was Ethan.
It wasn't.
Disappointment hit her so suddenly that she almost laughed at herself.
"What is wrong with me?" she whispered.
Emily turned.
"Did you say something?"
"No."
That evening, rain poured heavily across the city.
Ava stood under the office shelter, waiting for it to slow down.
She hadn't brought an umbrella.
Wonderful.
One by one, her colleagues left until she was standing alone.
She checked the weather forecast on her phone.
Another hour of rain.
She sighed.
"I'll just run for it."
The moment she stepped into the rain, a car stopped beside her.
The passenger window rolled down.
Her heartbeat quickened.
For a split second…
She hoped.
Instead, it was her manager.
"Need a ride?"
She forced a smile.
"Thank you."
The drive home was quiet.
She stared out of the window, watching raindrops race down the glass.
Without realizing it, she remembered the last message Ethan had sent.
If that's really what you want… I will.
He had kept his word.
No messages.
No calls.
No unexpected appearances.
Exactly what she asked for.
Then why did the silence hurt?
Later that night…
Ava sat on her bed with a cup of tea growing cold in her hands.
Her phone lay beside her.
She picked it up.
Unlocked it.
Opened their conversation.
She read every message again.
They weren't many.
Yet each one made her smile just a little before she quickly hid it from herself.
"This is ridiculous."
She should delete the chat.
That would be the sensible thing to do.
Her thumb hovered over the delete button.
Seconds passed.
Then she locked the phone again.
She couldn't do it.
Across the city…
Ethan stood on the balcony of his apartment, the rain falling softly beyond the glass railing.
His best friend, Mason, walked over with two cups of coffee.
"So… you finally listened to me."
Ethan accepted the cup.
"I told her I'd give her space."
"And?"
Ethan looked out into the night.
"It feels harder than I expected."
Mason chuckled.
"Welcome to the club."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"I just hope she realizes that silence doesn't always mean someone stopped caring."
Back in her apartment…
Ava placed her phone on the bedside table and turned off the light.
The room became quiet.
Too quiet.
She closed her eyes.
But instead of sleep…
She saw his smile.
She heard his calm voice.
And for the first time…
She whispered his name.
"…Ethan."