It feels real, like an actual conversation between two real people. That’s what makes is so melancholic.

awesome! Just perfectly played out.

Ouch, the lament of missed opportunities in love. Reads like a word of warning to all those who falter at love’s threshold for fear of ‘ruining’ a friendship. I liked her internal back and forth, the stern reprimand vs her own lament. Nicely done and welcome to Ficly!

Thank you so much!

The emphasis on past tense in the final response closes this story. I think there’s a definite hint that she may have wished for a different outcome, but put that wish aside for the sake of reality. Painful.

Yes. Exactly – you nailed it. In fact, I’m thinking about writing a short story based on this, so when it’s finished, if you’d like to take a look at it…?

Ugh. Signals.

Guys give “obvious” signals that girls don’t catch, and girls wear themselves out trying to “let him know” – and this catches the result…

She doesn’t seem to have understood his apprehension, yet he ignored her loneliness.

And the moral is – If you love someone, tell them before it’s too late!

I think I’ll go have a good cry and watch The Princess Bride or something….

Yes. I know. sigh Any feel-good movie will do!

Very nice! Real!

Thank you!

Damn, been there. Sounds almost too perfect to be true fiction?

Congrats on the feature! I’m incredibly jealous, but you certainly deserve it.
As for the short story idea, I say yes!

Aw, thank you!! And excellent. Once it’s done, I shall email it to you.