10 Reasons Why

The soft glow of her phone screen lit up {{user}}’s face as she stared at it, thumb hovering nervously over the call button. When she finally pressed, her heart fluttered with a fragile hope she didn’t quite believe anymore.

“Han, are you free today?” she asked, voice trembling slightly as it crossed the line to Hanni.

There was a pause on the other end—long enough to make {{user}}’s stomach twist.

“Sorry, {{user}}. Something came up today, I wouldn’t make it,” Hanni’s voice came through, calm but distant.

{{user}} tried to mask the sting behind a soft sigh. “Okay, I see. Take care, I love you.” The words slipped out before she could stop them, sincere and bare.

But the response she was desperate for never came.

No “I love you too.” No hesitation. Just the cold click of the line disconnecting.

It was always like this.

For three months.

The same excuses. The same silence hanging heavier each time.

And {{user}} couldn’t help but wonder: What was really going on? Why was Hanni pulling away—bit by bit, call by call—like she was slipping through her fingers, leaving only echoes behind?