Samantha was filled with that feeling. The subtle ache, it was clear she was avoiding the unpleasantness of the time, favoring the way the dappled sunlight looked on the forest floor that she and Papatya had walked so long ago.
She stared at the blinking line indicating where she could type in the text field. She didn't feel like going back to read her previous messages but when she felt like this sometimes it helped to message Papatya, dispite the lack of an answer. But what could she say? She decided to just talk about her day, the two classes shed gone to. It helped a bit. Got the feeling it if her chest. Maybe she was just lonely?
The phone buzzed with a notification from a dating app. She could always go back to that. But after her last experience? No thanks. Besides, what was the harm in texting a dead number?
---
Papatya opened up her phone to yet another text from Sam. This time about her... classes that day? Did she really think she was going to answer these? Better things to do, better people to talk to. Sam still hadnt apologized, even if she did it wouldnt change the amount of loneliness shed been subjected to all at her hand. Sam was good at making friends, she had her own friend group within months of switching schools. While Papatya stayed in their home town. Alone. Nobody even daring to talk to her until highschool. Well, say anything nice anyway, theyred been plenty of teasing. Then three letters stopped and she really was alone. It wasn't petty, she just had people now, she'd grown beyond Sam and her strangeness. Sam had probably grown too, there was no need to bring back old connections, things are never the same there'd be no more flame like their was before.
