Loved You & Always

You & I

The soft glow of my laptop screen illuminated his face, casting playful shadows on his chocolate hair, now hidden under a worn baseball cap. His dark brown eyes sparkled with mischief as he recounted his sister's clumsy mishap, a familiar warmth spreading through me. He laughed, the sound light and carefree, and it sent a jolt of happiness through my chest.

Even though we were miles apart, in different time zones, it felt like we were sharing a single moment that belonged only to us.

My heart raced with a mix of excitement and anticipation, the kind that made me hold my breath. This was more than just a casual conversation; it was a stolen moment of connection, a secret we shared. The thought of being caught, of disappointing my family, filled me with dread. Yet, the joy of being with him, of feeling his presence through the screen, outweighed the fear. In a way, I cherished the quiet rebellion, the small defiance against the rules that governed my life.

As he navigated his game, his knees pulled up close to his chest, a gesture of vulnerability that made my heart ache with longing. I longed to reach out, to touch him, to feel the warmth of his skin against mine. But the distance between us was impossible to ignore, a silent wall that neither of us could tear down, at least for now. I sighed, my fingers hovering over the keyboard, desperate to convey just how much I missed him.

The few who knew about him and our secret relationship tried to dishearten me, their words like daggers piercing through my happiness.

"It's just a phase," they said.

"Long-distance never works. You're just setting yourself up for disappointment." But I refused to listen to their doubts.

In my heart, I knew what we had was real, even if no one else seemed to understand. It was ours to keep, a bond that felt more authentic than anything I had ever known.

As I lay on my bed, the hum of my headphones filling the space with Taylor Swift's familiar melodies, I painted him a Valentine's Day surprise. My fingers moved over the canvas, each stroke filled with love and hope, a testament to the depth of my feelings for him.

The clock ticked relentlessly, each passing second a countdown to the moment I could share my surprise. I wanted to make this day special for him, to show him just how much he meant to me—even if it was through a screen and a painting.

The sun had long since set outside my window, the desert night settling over Abu Dhabi like a blanket. The warmth of the room, combined with the quiet rhythm of my heartbeat, made me feel both grounded and restless.

I had never been good at waiting, especially when the anticipation felt so heavy. My fingers drummed lightly against the phone in my hands, checking the time again. 9:50 PM. Ten more minutes.

Finally, the clock struck 10 PM. With a deep breath, I announced that I was going to bed, locking the door behind me with shaky hands.

The uncertainty of the moment filled me with dread.

What if he didn't like the painting?

What if he didn't understand the effort I had poured into it, the love that flowed with every brushstroke?

The fear gnawed at me, but I pushed it down. This was my gift to him—my way of expressing something too big for words.

I grabbed my phone and the painting, still wet in a few places, and texted John, the boy I was head over heels in love with.

We met on Facebook, a chance encounter sparked by my anime profile picture. He had reached out first, intrigued by the characters I had posted. Our shared love for anime became a safe space for us, where we could be our true selves without the weight of expectations.

Our conversations were effortless, flowing from one topic to the next—favorite shows, silly memes, life goals, and dreams for the future. We talked into the early hours of the morning, our connection growing stronger with every word.

The fear of rejection had loomed over me for weeks before I finally confessed how I felt. I had been terrified of losing him, of him rejecting me and shattering the fragile bond we had built. But when I confessed, I also let out the relief of sharing my feelings.

To my surprise, he confessed his feelings for me as well. And so, we became official—girlfriend and boyfriend, despite the miles between us. The joy of hearing those words from him was indescribable. It felt like the world had shifted into place, even as the reality of our distance set in.

"Good morning, Bunny. I meant good night, Ria," his message popped up on my screen, his warm words bringing a smile to my face. His voice, even through text, had a way of making me feel like everything was going to be okay. I couldn't help but blush, my cheeks heating up as I thought about how to keep this charming boy a secret from my family.

How could I explain him? How could I introduce someone who made my heart flutter so easily, someone who was so far away, to the people who didn't understand?

"Hi John, good morning. Happy Valentine's Day," I typed back, my fingers trembling slightly as I hit send. The clock ticked, and I anxiously waited for his response.

The world outside my room felt distant, and in that moment, it was just him and me, a connection that defied the distance. My heart swelled with love, and I couldn't wait to see how he would respond.

The miles between us didn't matter. Not tonight. Tonight, we were closer than ever, bound by the words we shared, the love we were building, and the hope that, someday soon, we'd no longer be separated by time and distance.