Hi

The night that Talon didn’t spiral - and grew emotionally.

February 24, days after the ill-fated trip to La Grande to buy the dog crate,

I sent him a link to the cottage from Heated Rivalry.

Nothing.

No reaction. No comment. No acknowledgment.

Just silence.

Then tonight, months later, after enough time had passed that I assumed the conversation had been permanently archived in the museum of unfinished things, my phone lit up.

One message.

Hi

That’s it.

No explanation.

No context.

No “sorry I’ve been busy.”

No “I saw something that reminded me of you.”

Just:

Hi

And for the first time in a very long time, I did what he used to do.

Nothing.

No response.

No reaction.

No frantic attempt to decode the meaning of a single word.

I simply looked at it and continued with my evening.

The truth is, four months ago I probably would have answered immediately.

Today, I found myself laughing instead.

Because somewhere between Starbuck, Washington, carrier pigeons, Pinterest boards, CarPlay screens, and an absurdly specific birthday hidden in a collage, life moved on.

If he wants a conversation, he knows where to find me.

For now, though, “Hi” is sitting exactly where he left it.

Unread in spirit.

— Tavis ☕🐦📅📍