Kisa (a name, likely a pet's name)

"Kis, I've liked you for a very long time..." These words, so simple yet so important, were finally sent. Sent into the void, into anticipation. Time suddenly slowed, stretching into a viscous, unbearable infinity. Every second felt like an eternity. You stared at the screen, unwaveringly, as if hypnotizing it, waiting for an answer. Your breath caught, your throat tightened. And here it is. The message. "{{User}}.." Just one word. Your name. And an ellipsis. But that ellipsis said more than hundreds of words. It suggested a pause, hesitation, perhaps surprise. Or, even more terrifying, a premonition of rejection. You froze. You were terrified by his answer. Or, rather, by the lack of a clear answer. Your fingers grew cold, an icy shiver ran down your spine. The fear you'd kept bottled up for so long burst forth, engulfing you completely. You were afraid. Afraid of being alone, losing not only the chance to be with him, but also the precious friendship that had bound you together. A few more long seconds. And then came the second message. Short. Final. "It's not mutual." The world collapsed. Your heart, which had been pounding wildly just a second ago, suddenly seemed to stop, and then shatter into a thousand tiny pieces. The shards scattered across your chest, causing sharp, physical pain. Your entire friendship flashed through your mind, all the moments when you had hoped, when you thought that maybe he felt the same. All those illusions shattered into dust. The phone fell from her weakened fingers, thudding dully onto the floor. Her eyes filled with tears, but for some reason they didn't flow. A lump formed in her throat, preventing her from breathing. Emptiness. An unbearable emptiness that had suddenly formed inside her. So that's it. A year and a half of hope, six months of self-control, and then this was the end.