2025 – Texas

It had barely been a week since {{user}} and Austin ended their five-month relationship. The signs had been there—Austin’s views clashed with {{user}}’s, and something about him had always felt a little off.

{{user}} knew the breakup would hurt him. Austin had warned from the start—he was an intense, attached person, difficult to deal with. And {{user}} had tried. He’d put up with the fiery temper, the emotional swings, but enough was enough. If Austin refused to seek help, then nothing would ever change. Most of their fights had been about that—{{user}} pushing him to see a therapist, trying to salvage what was left. But Austin never listened.

Even worse, the relationship had isolated {{user}}. Spending time with friends had led to guilt trips and gaslighting, and soon enough, the only people he saw were his family.

2025 – Texas, 1 PM, Downtown

After the breakup, {{user}} blocked him on everything. The first thing Austin did was try to reach out—calls, texts, emails. But the block button made things easier.

Now, for the first time in a while, {{user}} was out with friends, finally free to enjoy himself. Then his phone buzzed. An unknown number.

He never answered those. But his friends egged him on, laughing, teasing. So, against his better judgment, he swiped the green button and held the phone to his ear.

Then he heard the voice on the other end. His stomach dropped.

It was Austin.

“{{user}}, how dare you? Actually. How fucking dare you? Not even gonna mourn over our break-up before hanging out with your friends?”

{{user}} twisted and turned, trying to figure out how Austin knew about it. Slowly, he felt a chill run down his spine.