The first thing I did when I woke up was reach for my phone.

No new messages. The screen stared back at me, blank and indifferent. I told myself it was fine, better than fine. But the strange twist of disappointment in my stomach lingered anyway. I hated catching myself waiting for him. That his silence now felt like a punishment.

I checked again while making my bed and still nothing. By the time I was brushing my teeth, the silence felt heavier than it should. I set the phone down harder than necessary, annoyed at myself.

This is ridiculous.

I decided today would be different. Before leaving the house, I made a decision. I stood in front of my dresser and unfastened the bracelet. The leather slid off my wrist easily. I held it in my palm for a long moment, then placed it neatly in the top drawer. The leather looked small and harmless lying there. I closed the drawer with a decisive click.

Today, I’m normal again. No bracelet. No Dominic. Just me. Jasmine.

The moment I stepped outside, my wrist felt strangely naked. The cool morning air brushed against the skin that had grown used to the bracelet’s warmth. I kept absently rubbing the spot where it should have been, as if I could somehow summon it back. The absence was small, but it unsettled me more than I expected.

By the time I reached campus, the restlessness had settled deep in my bones. I quietly made my way to my first class. Inside the amphitheatre, I claimed a seat in the center, the angle perfect to see the board. Minutes later, Sophia dropped into the seat beside me with her usual energy.

“Good morning!” she greeted. “Wow, rough night?”

I forced a laugh. “You know, the exams are coming up.”

Emily was quieter. She sat on my other side, taking her notebook out. “Have you started?” she asked Sophia who grinned sheepishly.

“You guys are workaholics. I say, we do something fun together before the exam rush really starts.” Sophia nudged my shoulder. “Seriously. You need sunlight and caffeine and maybe a hug.”

I rubbed my wrist as I thought about her suggestion.

Emily already didn’t seem too keen on the idea. “You’ll regret it if you don’t start soon.”

The professor entered the room. He quickly set up as the projector warmed up. Today’s subject was displayed on the board. He cleared his throat as the room quieted down. I grabbed my pen, ready.

Halfway through the lecture, Emily leaned over and whispered, “You keep touching your wrist. Everything alright?”

I froze, my hand hovering mid-air. I hadn’t even realized I was doing it. I tucked my hand under my thigh. “I’m fine.”  

Emily frowned, but still nodded, putting her focus back on the teacher.

During a short break, I reached into my bag for my phone. The screen was blank with no messages. I stared at it anyway, willing something to appear. When the professor resumed, I slid the phone back into my bag, but my leg bounced restlessly under the desk. Twice, I thought I felt it vibrate, phantom sensations that made my heart jump, only to find nothing when I checked. Everything felt louder, sharper. My thoughts refused to settle.

The rest of the day dragged. I couldn’t focus, not anymore. Every few minutes my thumb would drift toward where the bracelet should have been, finding nothing but my own skin. The anxiety grew like a slow pressure in my chest. By late afternoon, I was checking my phone compulsively, ashamed of how badly I wanted to see his name appear.

Did I do something wrong?

Did he lose interest?

Why do I even care?

The questions looped endlessly in my head, growing louder the longer the silence stretched. I reached for my wrist as my mind grew louder, heavier.

So much for being normal.

When I got home, Mom was humming in the kitchen and Dad was at the dining table surrounded by paperwork. I walked over and gave him a quick side hug.

“Hey Dad. Tough case?”

He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. “Same old. How about you? You seem a little scattered today.”

“I’m okay,” I said lightly, forcing a casual tone. “Exams are coming up soon.”

I felt like a parrot, one that kept lying to everyone.

He nodded, but I caught the brief flicker of concern in his expression before he returned to his files. I went to set the table. I could still feel his occasional gaze on my back. I nearly put the chopsticks on the wrong side twice. He said nothing, but the quiet concern in his eyes made the guilt twist even deeper. In the end, he cleaned up his files in a neat pile and gave me a hand. We worked alongside each other in silence. Throughout dinner I could still feel him glancing at me now and then. I laughed at Mom’s story about her coworker and asked Dad about his day like usual, but the entire time I was painfully aware of my bare wrist. It felt like a missing piece.

After the house had gone quiet, I sat on the edge of my bed staring at the closed drawer. All day, my wrist felt wrong. The restlessness had turned into a low, constant hum under my skin. I barely lasted ten minutes.

I opened the drawer, took out the bracelet, and fastened it around my wrist with trembling fingers. The familiar weight settled against my skin. The relief came fast and deep, followed immediately by a wave of shame. I exhaled shakily.

Just for tonight. Just until I feel normal again.

I closed my eyes and felt my mind grow quiet. Lighter. My phone vibrated on the nightstand. I grabbed it too quickly.

Unknown: There you are.

I stared at the three words, my heart pounding. The quiet came so quickly with absolute certainty. He had been waiting.

And the worst part, the part that truly terrified me, was how relieved I felt to finally hear from him again.