The week felt longer than it should have.
Every morning, Amara woke up expecting to see Adrian sitting on her bed, or leaning against her doorframe, or pretending he wasn't waiting for her.
But he wasn't there.
Every evening, she found herself glancing at the stairs, hoping he'd walk in early.
He didn't.
And every night, she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, realizing just how much she missed him.
His voice. His presence. His quiet teasing. His warmth.
She hadn't realized how deeply he had settled into her days until he wasn't in them.
By the fourth night, she couldn't sleep.
She hugged her pillow, sighing softly. "I miss you…"
Her phone buzzed.
Her heart stopped.
Then raced.
Adrian. Calling.
Her breath caught in her throat. She scrambled to sit up, hands shaking slightly as she answered.
"Hello?" she whispered.
There was a tiny pause.
Then his voice — low, warm, familiar — filled her ear.
"Hey."
Her heart melted instantly. "Hi…"
He exhaled softly, like he'd been holding his breath too.
"How are you?" he asked.
"I'm okay," she said, trying to sound normal. "How come you called?"
There was a small silence.
Then he said it — quietly, honestly, without hesitation:
"I missed you."
Her breath hitched.
He continued, voice softer now. "I wanted to hear your voice."
Her cheeks warmed instantly. She looked down, smiling without meaning to.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't need to.
Adrian let out a tiny laugh — the kind he only ever let slip with her.
"Are you blushing, my love?"
Amara's eyes widened. "H‑how did you—"
"I can hear it," he said, amused. "Your breathing gets softer when you blush."
Her face turned even redder.
She hid her face in her pillow even though he couldn't see her. "Stop…"
"I'm right," he teased gently.
She could hear the smile in his voice.
And suddenly, the distance didn't feel so big anymore.
She curled up under her blanket, phone pressed to her ear, heart racing in the best way.
"I really miss you a lot," she whispered.
Adrian's voice dropped, warm and sincere. "I know. I missed you too."
And for the rest of the night, they stayed on the call — talking softly, laughing quietly, filling the silence they'd both been drowning in.
For the first time in days…
Amara fell asleep smiling.