I deliberately ruined our 740-day Snapchat streak by sending a black screen to his work bestie instead of him, just because he skipped my graduation dinner for overtime at his brand new job. I know it’s just fire emojis, but that streak was our daily thing since high school, and watching him prioritize some spreadsheets over me completely broke my heart. Now he’s leaving me on read and I feel sick.

Deep breath: an unbroken streak never saved a relationship, and a broken one won't destroy a real one either. What happened here wasn't about an app—it was pure, unfiltered heartbreak wearing a petty little disguise. You wanted to make him feel a fraction of the abandonment you felt sitting at that dinner table with an empty chair. Totally human, but snapping his coworker was like throwing a brick through his office window just to get him to look outside. His first job is terrifying him right now, and he clearly doesn't know how to balance pleasing a boss with showing up for the sister who loves him. Drop the phone, skip the cryptic stories, and send one completely honest text: "I'm sorry I weaponized Snapchat. I was just really hurt that you weren't there for my graduation." If you cut the games, he can stop being defensive and finally hear what actually hurt you.