The house felt safer once everyone stopped texting

Dear Delyara, Tonight I muted my phone and the whole room changed. It’s embarrassing how much relief I felt. I didn’t realize how tense I’d become from constant reachability — the little buzz of messages, updates, obligations, expectations, people appearing in my evening asking for some version of me before I’ve even had time to return to myself. Once the phone went silent, the house felt more like mine. I think I need more boundaries around access. Not because people are bad. Because I am more tired than I keep admitting.