This is exactly what happened the times that I’ve ghosted on people. I got anxious about putting the message the right way because I didn’t want to be hurtful, and the longer I avoided it the more it felt like I had to have something perfectly-phrased to say, and then at some point it becomes like “well now if I say…

LaCroix! Or add lemon/lime. You can also improve the taste of tap water sometimes just by letting it sit (if your city uses chlorination and not chloramination).

Aspartame is still way better than sugar for your teeth, especially if you’re going to be drinking something acidic.