Not everyone shows closeness through speed
Some people care a lot but do not live inside their phone, need time to gather their thoughts, or feel overloaded when everything demands an instant response.
Misreading happens when our expectations are invisible
If one person reads quick replies as affection and the other reads slower replies as normal, both people can feel hurt without either one trying to create distance.
If the friendship matters, talk about communication rhythm
A simple conversation about what feels attentive, what feels urgent, and what feels respectful can remove a lot of quiet resentment.