Sorry, I didn't mean to imply I felt no emotion! I meant that there isn't much time for it to build up in a short narrative work, compared to something which would take longer than a jam period to write. :)
With more time and a longer story, we could get to know Eli before his untimely passing, so rather than entering into a story where the MC is already grieving, we'd be grieving alongside them. It was easier for me to make the 'safe' choices that the MC didn't want to, because I didn't share that attachment to Eli as a friend. It could also allow for some misdirection, like considering other possibilities of how Eli could be sending messages before the truth is alluded to.
As it is, the writing is good! Fitting what you did into the time frame is definitely impressive.