Don't Be a Ghost
Girls' Life magazine|October/November 2021
Any of these alternatives are better than leaving them on read...
By Erin Sargent
Don't Be a Ghost

It’s Sunday night homework hour, and your phone buzzes with a text from… your crush? Nope, it’s that person who just wishes you two were more than friends. And, maybe, at one point, you wished that, too. But you can’t control who you like—and, tbh, you’re simply not feeling it.

After struggling with how to reply, you put your phone down and go back to your HW. Because suddenly writing 1,200 words on climate change solutions seems way easier than stringing together a straightforward sentence to sweetly let them know you aren’t interested.

Whether you’re squaring on Snapchat or leaving them on read on iMessage (or, eek, ignoring IRL), ghosting is when you stop responding to someone and hope they get the hint. And though it seems simpler to avoid confrontation, in an age of constant connection, ghosting leads to more confusion than clarity.

Plus, when you ghost, hurt feelings abound—and neither you nor your admirer gets the chance to express your emotions and grow from the experience.

“A couple of years ago, I got ghosted by a girl I really liked, someone I honestly believed I was going to date,” says Brent G., 16. “I was really upset about it. I spent so much time wondering what happened, trying to figure out what I did wrong.”

Have no fear: We’re here to help you draft the pitch-perfect response to *any* potential non-bae. Because the only ghosts this season should be the ones in your next Halloween movie marathon.

THE CLASSROOM CUTIE

Denne historien er fra October/November 2021-utgaven av Girls' Life magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra October/November 2021-utgaven av Girls' Life magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA GIRLS' LIFE MAGAZINESe alt
YOUR CLOSET IS ACTUALLY FULL OF Cash
Girls' Life magazine

YOUR CLOSET IS ACTUALLY FULL OF Cash

You're about to clean your room, help the planet *and* find your aesthetic.

time-read
4 mins  |
June/July 2024
WHAT'S YOUR LIFE PATH NUMBER?
Girls' Life magazine

WHAT'S YOUR LIFE PATH NUMBER?

ASTROLOGY GIRLIES, LISTEN UP: NUMEROLOGY JUST BECAME YOUR NEWEST OBSESSION.

time-read
5 mins  |
June/July 2024
NO MORE SUMMERTIME Sadness
Girls' Life magazine

NO MORE SUMMERTIME Sadness

School's out, the sun is shining and you're feeling...down in the dumps? Despite sleeping in, the newfound freedom from homework assignments, endless hours of leisure time and pool days aplenty, something's got you in a major funk.

time-read
3 mins  |
June/July 2024
Hey girl drink your water
Girls' Life magazine

Hey girl drink your water

In case you needed another reason to hit *add to cart* on that trendy tumbler...

time-read
4 mins  |
June/July 2024
grief
Girls' Life magazine

grief

KENNEDY MURPHY WAS JUST 5 YEARS OLD WHEN HER DAD DIED-AND HER WORLD WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. A DECADE LATER, SHE'S SHARING HOW SHE LIVES WITH LOSS AND HOW SHE HELPS OTHER KIDS COPE.

time-read
4 mins  |
June/July 2024
Who's Your sunny Szn Bestie?
Girls' Life magazine

Who's Your sunny Szn Bestie?

Your bsf packed her bags for sleepaway camp, leaving you stuck at home, hoping to find a friend to fill her flip-flops. So, in her absence, who's your go-to gal gonna be for the next 10 weeks?

time-read
3 mins  |
June/July 2024
PRESENTING YOUR no drama summer
Girls' Life magazine

PRESENTING YOUR no drama summer

You tell your dad you’re grabbing pizza with the girls…when you’re really headed on a date with that cutie from swim team.

time-read
4 mins  |
June/July 2024
Dear Carol
Girls' Life magazine

Dear Carol

FRIENDS OR MORE? So I'm friends with this boy. People always assume he likes me because he is super nice to me and always smiles at me and stuff. What should I do?

time-read
7 mins  |
June/July 2024
5 SUMMERY LOVEVE RULES TO LIVE BY
Girls' Life magazine

5 SUMMERY LOVEVE RULES TO LIVE BY

Sooo what exactly does a girl have to do to make her \"Cruel Summer\" fantasy a reality?

time-read
3 mins  |
June/July 2024
WE KNOW WHAT YOUR CRUSH IS THINKING
Girls' Life magazine

WE KNOW WHAT YOUR CRUSH IS THINKING

That infamous \"I think we should break up\" text pops up (ouch). Or your situationship keeps saying they can't wait to hang out with you...until band practice, math homework, a pickup game and, well, just about anything else happens to get in the way.

time-read
4 mins  |
June/July 2024