Next to the size of the universe, your crush not texting back is tiny. Next to your heart, it’s allowed to sting.

Two measurements can both be correct. On the cosmic scale almost nothing in your week registers, which is genuinely useful when you are spiraling. On the human scale, something small can hurt exactly as much as it hurts. People use the first scale to talk themselves out of the second, which just adds shame on top.

When something minor is wrecking your evening, let it be both: not important, and not nothing. Say the honest version to one person instead of arguing yourself out of it. Perspective shortens a sting, it does not forbid one.