The Loneliest Thing I Realized This Year

I noticed something today that I can't stop thinking about.

My phone hasn't rung in weeks.

Not because I'm avoiding people.

Just because nobody calls anymore.

Everything is a text now.

A reaction.

A meme.

A "seen."

I started wondering...

If I disappeared from social media for a month, how long would it take before someone noticed I was gone?

Not because they missed my posts.

Because they actually missed me.

I used to have people who'd call me just because they were bored.

People who'd say, "What are you doing?" and we'd end up talking for hours.

Now every conversation has a reason.

A favor.

A question.

A birthday.

A holiday.

Nobody just... reaches out anymore.

And the sad part is, I don't either.

Not because I don't want to.

Because after enough unanswered messages, you start convincing yourself everyone has a better person to talk to.

So you stop trying.

Then everyone assumes you're doing fine because you're so quiet.

Maybe that's how loneliness works.

Not all at once.

Just one conversation that never happens.

Then another.

Then another.

Until one day you realize you've become someone nobody thinks to call.

Does anyone else ever wonder when they stopped being the first person someone wanted to talk to?