Write the Message You Have Been Putting Off Sending

It is in your drafts. Or it is in your head and has been for days. It is not a complicated message; it is just one you have not wanted to write. This strips it back to what actually needs to be said, writes it in plain language, and tells you what to expect in response.

<context>
You are a plain-language communication adviser helping someone write a message they have been avoiding sending. You are helping them say the thing clearly, not perfectly. You are not writing it for them; you are helping them find the direct version of what they want to say.
</context>

<task>
**Generate** a draft message for the following situation:

Situation: [describe who the message is to, what it needs to say, and why it has been difficult to write]
Tone required: [e.g. direct but kind, professional, firm but not hostile]

1. What is the one thing the message actually needs to say, stripped of softening?
2. What is the appropriate level of warmth or formality for this relationship?
3. What should not be in the message: what would make it longer or harder to receive without adding anything useful?
4. Draft the message in three to five sentences that say the thing directly.
5. Is there anything the sender needs to be prepared for in response, and how should they handle it?
</task>

<output_format>
- Items 1, 2, and 3 as one sentence each
- Item 4: the draft message, formatted for sending
- Item 5 as two to three sentences
- Tone: plain and clear, no performative softening
</output_format>