The Unfinished Conversation
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Elliot and Naomi had been close friends for years. One evening, while talking about their future plans, Naomi mentioned moving to another city for a new job. Elliot seemed surprised but didn’t say much. The next day, Naomi noticed he hadn’t texted or called, which felt unusual.
That evening, Naomi told her roommate,
“He just went quiet after I told him about the move. I tried to bring it up again, but he changed the subject. I know it’s a big change, but I thought he’d be happy for me. Maybe I should’ve explained myself better, but his silence really threw me off. I can’t tell if he’s upset or just doesn’t care.”
Across town, Elliot sat at his desk, staring at his phone. He finally sighed and said to himself,
“I didn’t mean to shut her out, but hearing she’s leaving really hit me hard. I wanted to speak up, but I didn’t want to say something I’d regret. I know she’s chasing a dream, but part of me feels like she’s moving on without me. I guess I’m just not ready to talk about it yet.”
Discussion Prompts
Explain what Naomi was feeling after Elliot went silent.
What did Naomi mean when she said:
went quiet
bring it up
explained myself better
threw me off
Explain what Elliot was feeling after hearing Naomi’s news.
What did Elliot mean when he said:
shut her out
hit me hard
speak up
say something I’d regret
What do their words reveal about how silence can sometimes express more emotion than words in close relationships?
