Still Waiting for Mr. Big, Settling for Mr. Read-Receipt

Still Waiting for Mr. Big, Settling for Mr. Read-Receipt

I grew up thinking my love life would be full of grand gestures, surprise weekend getaways, and emotionally unavailable men in designer suits who’d one day come around. Blame it on Sex and the City. Mr. Big was problematic, sure—but he was also tall, charming, and had a driver. That’s a hard fantasy to unlearn.

Fast forward to today: Mr. Big never showed up. Instead, I’m deciphering read receipts like they’re ancient scrolls. “He read it at 8:42 p.m.—why hasn’t he replied? Is he dead? Did he lose his phone? Is he avoiding emotional intimacy by pretending he’s ‘just busy’?” Probably the third.

Modern dating isn't about love letters or rooftop confessions. It's about analyzing someone's texting patterns like you're trying to crack a CIA code. One minute you're planning your imaginary wedding, the next you’re Googling, “What does it mean if he heart-reacts but doesn’t respond?”

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not looking for a perfect man in a penthouse apartment (okay, maybe just the apartment). I’m just tired of romantic breadcrumbs. A “you up?” text isn't romantic. It’s lazy. And yet, here I am—settling for digital validation from men who don’t even capitalize their "I"s.

I still want Big Love—messy, magnetic, movie-worthy. But I’m also learning to want more for myself. Mr. Read-Receipt may not be the worst thing to happen to romance, but he’s certainly not the bar. If he wanted to, he would. And if he didn’t text back… maybe it’s time to stop writing love stories where I’m the only one holding the pen.