A group project lands in your lap — which version of you shows up?

Pulls their weight calmly and tags everyone's sections

Does the absolute minimum that technically counts

Lets the overachievers carry it and nods gratefully

Vanishes from the shared doc until it's all due tonight

Someone nearby is clearly unraveling — what are you doing ten seconds later?

Already on my way to ask if they're actually okay

Respecting their space, staying in my own lane

Mentioning it to one person who absolutely will mention it

Clocking the scene, looking away, getting on with my day

Like I'd fight a bear for them on a slow Tuesday

Like I try, but I'm allowed off days too

Like I might forget to text back for three weeks

Like I've been quietly walking away from the group chat

A calm sentence that invites them to keep talking

A hardening tone as I refuse to let them win the room

A polite noise that means I've already stopped listening

A defensive snap I'll absolutely regret at 3 a.m.

I name what they did and ask why, without yelling

I laugh it off, shrug, keep my peace moving

I fire back a sharper one, because fair is fair

I go quiet, nurse the wound, remember it for years

I welcome it and use it to level myself up

I tolerate it reluctantly while rolling my eyes privately

I slide away from the whole thing; fights bore me

I get petty first, apologize never, brood for weeks