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They Took Hours to Reply

When someone's delayed response feels like a message itself.

30-Second Summary

Every minute they don't reply, your brain writes a story about why. And it's rarely "they're just busy" - it's "they don't care about me."

Key Insight

People respond when they can, not based on how much they care about you. Response time is about their schedule, energy, and attention - not about your value.

Right Now

Put your phone away. Checking obsessively won't make them reply faster, but it will make you feel worse. Do something absorbing until they respond.