Ghosting feels easier than an awkward goodbye. It’s only easier for one of the two people.

Disappearing takes a hard five minutes out of your day and hands somebody else weeks of guessing. Without an ending they keep rereading the last conversation, looking for whatever it was they did. What felt like avoiding a conflict was really moving the whole weight of it onto one person. The awkwardness never evaporated; it only changed address.

If you have gone silent on someone, you do not owe a long explanation. One honest message saying where you stand is enough, even a late one. Send it, and let them have the ending you got to keep.