We all know the feeling: you send a simple text, put your phone down, and suddenly every minute feels louder than the last. You check your screen even though it didn’t buzz, reread what you wrote, and start wondering if you said something wrong. Your mind fills in the silence with stories—maybe they’re upset, losing interest, or ignoring you on purpose. But most of the time, they’re just busy, distracted, or planning to reply later and forgetting. The waiting isn’t really about the message; it’s about what it triggers in us: the need to feel valued, chosen, and acknowledged. And when the reply finally comes, you realize the story in your head was louder than reality.