The next day felt normal.
Too normal.
Tiana woke up, got ready, and left like she always did.
No interruptions.
No unexpected messages.
No noise.
"…This is better," she muttered.
And yet—
It didn't feel like it.
At work—
She sat at her desk, staring at her screen.
Not working.
Just… staring.
"…You've opened that document three times," her coworker said.
Tiana didn't look up.
"I'm thinking."
"You're buffering."
"That's rude."
"It's accurate."
Tiana sighed.
"…I'm working."
"You're blinking."
"That's part of working."
Her coworker shook their head.
"…Something is wrong with you."
Tiana finally looked up.
"…That's a strong statement."
"You've been quiet."
"That's my personality."
"Not like this."
There it was again.
Tiana leaned back slightly.
"…Why is everyone suddenly an expert on how I behave?"
"Because you're behaving differently."
"…Or maybe you're just noticing late."
Her coworker paused.
"…You and Jeffery should compare notes," they muttered.
Tiana froze for half a second.
"…Why Jeffery?"
"Because he asked about you."
That—
Was new.
"…When?" she asked.
"This morning."
Tiana frowned slightly.
"…What did he say?"
Her coworker shrugged.
"Nothing dramatic. Just… asked if you were okay."
"…And?"
"I said you're alive."
"That's helpful."
"I try."
Tiana looked back at her screen.
"…That's unnecessary," she muttered.
But it stayed.
Later—
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
Jeffery.
Again.
"…You're consistent," she said under her breath.
She answered.
"…Hello?"
"You're at work?"
Tiana frowned slightly.
"…That's usually where I am at this time."
"I know."
A pause.
"…Then why ask?"
Another pause.
"…Just checking," he said.
Tiana leaned back.
"…You've been checking a lot."
Silence.
Then—
"…You don't like that?"
She thought about it.
"…I didn't say that."
"Then what are you saying?"
Tiana glanced around her workspace.
People moving.
Normal noise.
"…I'm saying it's noticeable."
A short pause.
"…Alright," he said.
Again.
That word.
Short.
Too easy.
"…You keep saying that," she added.
"I know."
"…And then you don't explain anything."
Silence.
"…Do you want me to?" he asked.
That—
Caught her off guard.
Tiana sat up slightly.
"…If there's something to explain."
A pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
"…Not right now," he said.
Tiana blinked once.
"…Then don't start it."
Fair.
He let out a quiet breath.
"…Okay."
This time—
It sounded different.
Less dismissive.
More… careful.
The call ended shortly after.
No tension.
No argument.
Just—
Unfinished.
That evening—
Tiana walked home slowly.
Not tired.
Just not in a rush.
She passed a small group of people laughing loudly.
Someone almost bumped into her.
"Sorry!" they said quickly.
"It's fine."
She kept walking.
Her phone buzzed again.
She didn't check immediately.
Waited a few seconds.
Then looked.
Jeffery.
Again.
She stared at it.
"…You're doing too much," she muttered.
But she answered.
"…Hello?"
"I forgot to say something."
Tiana stopped walking.
"…That sounds important."
A pause.
"…Just be careful," he said.
There it was.
Again.
Tiana's expression didn't change.
"…You've said that already."
"I know."
"…So what does it mean?"
Silence.
Then—
"…Just don't rush into things," he added.
That—
Was different.
Not vague.
But not clear either.
Tiana frowned slightly.
"…What things?"
Another pause.
"…Anything," he said.
That wasn't helpful.
"…You're still being vague."
"I'm trying not to be."
"…You're failing."
A small exhale on the other end.
"…I'll explain later," he said.
Tiana shook her head slightly.
"…You keep saying that too."
"I know."
The call ended again.
Tiana stood still for a moment.
"…Later," she repeated.
That word again.
Not now.
Not clear.
Just—
Later.
She slipped her phone into her bag.
And kept walking.
This time—
Slower.
Because now—
It wasn't the silence that felt different.
It was what kept interrupting it.