Hollow Holidays

Dear Diary,

I got a post-holiday text message from Ryan. It was simple.

Hey. With no How are you or what have you been up to attached. I was crushed but I wanted to keep it light. I responded, Not today Satan, not today. I thought he would laugh but he didn’t say anything. Anyway, a few hours later I said—okay, well nice hearing from you, merry christmas!  

This time he did respond. He said, wow. K, merry christmas to you to.

I felt like he was angry with me, but I didn’t want to take the bait. I didn’t have to wait long. After fifteen minutes he said,

Look, it’s just that I’m not in town that often. It feels like you’re blowing me off.

--What? I don’t owe you sex, bro.

...Do you have someone else? Already??

--That’s none of your concern.

All right, I see how it is.

I don’t know if I made the right decision. A few minutes ago, he sent me another message. He said, hey, I’m sorry. Merry Christmas.

Even though I won, technically...I still feel hollow inside.

-Eve