Focused breath steadies the storm in my chest. Over and over, I rehearse what I’d say if you answered. Remnants of your voice echo in the silence. Gravity pulls at my hand as I reach for the phone again. In stillness, I ask myself—what do I need: closure or connection? Voiceless vibrations stir the table—false hope in digital form. Even knowing it’s not you, I glance, conditioned by memory. Not yet free, I carry the weight of what was left unsaid. Each attempt to release you tightens the tether between us. Some wounds disguise themselves as loyalty. Slowly, though, I learn that healing does not wait for an apology.