Unique held her phone tightly, eyes glued to the screen, waiting for Dove's reply. The night was quiet around her, but inside, her thoughts were loud and racing.
It was late. She had sent a message an hour ago after their usual chat ended abruptly. She had asked a simple question, hoping for comfort or an explanation.
"Are you okay? You seem distant today."
Minutes passed. Then an hour. No reply.
Unique's heart sank deeper with every silent second. This wasn't like Dove. He was always quick to answer, to share, to listen.
Finally, a message popped up.
"Sorry for the late reply. I was busy."
Unique stared at the words. They felt cold, almost like a brush-off.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Should she ask what was wrong? Or just let it be?
Instead, she typed:
"I miss our talks. Please tell me if something is wrong."
Another hour passed. No reply.
Days went by. Dove's messages grew shorter, less frequent. Their deep conversations faded into polite greetings. The closeness Unique had felt started slipping away, leaving behind an empty space she couldn't fill.
On Sunday at church, Unique watched Dove from a distance. He sat quietly with his usual calm, but he avoided her eyes when she looked.
After service, she mustered courage and approached him.
"Dove," she said softly, "can we talk?"
He nodded but didn't smile.
They walked outside under the bright sun, the church garden buzzing with people.
"Why have you been so quiet?" Unique asked.
Dove sighed, looking down at the ground. "I've been dealing with something," he said quietly. "Something I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid."
Unique's heart raced. "Afraid of what?"
"That it might change how you see me," Dove answered, voice shaking.
Unique reached out, touching his arm gently. "You can trust me. I'm here."
For a moment, they stood in silence. The wooden window of the church behind them caught the sun's rays, making the air feel warm.
But despite the warmth, a cold doubt had settled between them.