What happens if a creator doesn't reply in 5 days?

If 5 days pass with no reply, the message expires.

You're automatically refunded the price you paid. The service fee is not refunded.

The creator doesn't earn anything from a message they didn't reply to; payment only releases on an actual reply within the window.

No action is required from the sender to get the refund. It happens on its own once the window closes.