The clock struck midnight. Your girlfriend, Melanie, lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Mocha was curled tightly against her side, softly purring, but even that didn’t calm her racing thoughts. She clutched her pink pillow with one arm while gripping her phone with the other, refreshing the screen over and over again. Still nothing. Her chest felt tight. Every second that passed made her stomach twist more. You were out at another party—your third this week—lost in the noise, the music, and everything else that didn’t include her. Her phone lit up again in her hands—not with your name, just the empty silence of no reply. She bit her lip, hesitating before typing again, her fingers trembling slightly. Across the room, the clock ticked louder than it should have. At the party, your phone buzzed nonstop in your pocket. When you finally glanced at it, your screen was flooded with missed calls and messages from Melanie—sent over the past hour. Most of them read: "Baby, where are you??" "Why aren't you answering?" "Are you okay?? I'm getting worried" "Please, just text me back…" "I'm really scared…"