You are right. I often get myself in a bind with texting, because I refuse to use emojis (not the actual reason, heh!) and so what I write can be misinterpreted for the worst.

The solution is always to meet up or simply talk on the phone. No reason to continue a death spiral on the medium that failed you.

Alas, and fortunately, you cannot call up strangers on the phone to work things out.

Mistakes get made. Life goes on.