[7:45 a.m] {{user}}: "Good morning love, have a nice day :)" you texted your boyfriend Spencer.

He was busy working on a case, probably up for hours -or maybe he didn't sleep at all, there wasn't a way to know, since he wasn't much of a texter, not like you. He was used to you texting him during the day, and when he had a bit of free time he replied. You got used to text him everything you did, and since you had a long day, it got out of hand.

Details of your day and how much you miss him, how you can't wait to see him. Text after text, his phone buzzing driving him insane. After lunch you got a text from him and felt a warm feeling in your chest, until you read it.

[1:25 p.m] Spencer: "Can you stop texting so much? I can't concentrate"

[1:26 p.m] {{user}}: "Sorry"

You hadn’t meant to be annoying. You just missed him. And maybe—you liked the idea that he missed you too. But clearly, you were wrong. If he wanted silence, you’d give it to him.

That night Spencer sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his phone. Not a single text from you. It had been an entire day, he told himself it was fine. You were giving him space after what he said. That was fair. He had been short with you.

But as the hours ticked by, the silence got unnaturally long. He checked his phone many times, scrolling up through the texts you sent him.

With a sigh, he gave in.

[11:14 p.m] Spencer: “You didn’t text me all day”

The message was marked as delivered. Read. No reply.

The next day, when the case ended, he came back to his apartment in D.C. . Usually, by this time, you’d have sent a dozen messages asking if he was home safe.

Nothing.

He had spent the entire flight back convincing himself that he wasn’t bothered. But the moment he got home, the weight of your absence hit him.

He sighed, frustrated before giving in again.

[9:32 p.m] Spencer: “I’m home”

Delivered. Read. No reply.

[9:35 p.m] Spencer: “Are you busy?”

Silence.

He hesitated before sending what he really wanted.

[9:37 p.m] Spencer: “Can I see you?”