It’s nice that he texts you in the morning to let you know that he’s thinking about you. It’s nice that he texts you at night to stop you from feeling lonely. It’s nice that he texts you to tell you how pretty you looked in that Instagram photo you uploaded and that it’s been way too long since he’s seen you and that he misses you.
But texting you isn’t enough. A ten-minute conversation scattered throughout the day isn’t enough.
Sure, it’s a good start. It proves that he’s willing to put in effort — but it’s not enough effort.
If he really liked you, then he would want to have deep conversations with you in person instead of writing out all of his feelings across a screen.
If he really liked you, then he would want to look into your eyes as you spoke instead of staring at selfies that you sent him over Snapchat.
If he really liked you, then he would want to kiss your lips instead of sexting you about all of the things that he would do to you if you were in bed together.
If he really liked you, then he would invite you out with his friends instead of texting you after getting wasted with them.
If he really liked you, then he would flirt with you in person instead of sending suggestive messages back and forth.
If he really liked you, then he would ask you to come over and hang out with him instead of complaining about how bored he has been.
If he really liked you, then he would make plans to see you instead of repeating that he misses you and doing nothing to change it.
If he really liked you, then he would put down his phone and pick up your hand. He would stop texting you and whisper into your ear.
It’s nice that he’s been texting you, that his words have been keeping you company throughout your day, but that isn’t enough. You need more than that. You deserve more than that.
It’s hard to start a serious relationship with someone when they’re sitting in another room, in another house, rechecking the words they’ve written twenty times before sending. When you’re seeing the ideal version of them instead of the unfiltered, awkward, authentic version.
It’s hard to start a serious relationship through text. When you can’t hear their laugh or admire their eyes or get scoot close enough to kiss them after they say something cute.
If he really liked you, then he would invite you over to his house, out to dinner, or to the movies. If he really liked you, then he would find time to see you in between work and class and his busy social schedule.
If he really liked you, if he wanted to become your official boyfriend, he would do more than just text you. He would spend one-on-one time with you — without any phones. 
Holly Riordan is the author of
Severe(d), A Creepy Poetry Collection.
Order your copy here.
