The world didn't end. It just got very, very quiet.
I went to class. I did my work. I ate at the dining hall. It was all the same, but it felt like I was watching my own life from far away. The part of my world that was Aaron had gone completely quiet.
For the first few days, the anger actually helped. It kept me focused and numb. I ignored his once-a-day messages.
Aaron: Are you alright?
Aaron: Are you attending your lectures.
Aaron: The weather looks like rain. Do you have a jacket or umbrella?
They weren't orders. They were more like system checks. Checking to see if there was still a connection. I left them on read. It was petty. I knew that. But after feeling so controlled, the silence felt like the only thing that was truly mine.
Silver kept his distance. If we passed each other, he'd nod, but that was it. The easy back-and-forth we used to have was gone. I'd succeeded in pushing everyone away. Congratulations to me.
