(Lucy Bronze and Ona Batlle)
Lucy Bronze and Ona Batlle had grown accustomed to spending nearly every waking moment together during their time playing for FC Barcelona. Their bond extended far beyond the pitch, evolving into a deep, affectionate relationship that only grew stronger with time. But now, with Lucy's recent move back to England to play for Manchester City, they found themselves separated by hundreds of miles. The physical distance was challenging, yet they both knew their love was strong enough to weather any storm. Still, they missed the little things: the small touches, the shared laughs, and even the simple comfort of each other's presence.
Despite the distance, they refused to let it weaken their connection. In an effort to maintain some semblance of normalcy, Lucy and Ona decided to have regular FaceTime date nights. It was their way of staying close, even when they were miles apart. Tonight was one of those nights, and both women had been looking forward to it all week.
Lucy sat in her cozy apartment in Manchester, her laptop open on the coffee table. She had just finished setting up her space, adjusting the lighting to make sure Ona could see her clearly. She smiled as she glanced at the clock—Ona would be calling any minute now. Sure enough, her phone buzzed, and Ona's face appeared on the screen, beaming as brightly as ever.
"Hi, love," Lucy said, her voice soft and warm.
"Hi, mi amor," Ona replied, her Spanish accent wrapping around the words like a comforting embrace. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too," Lucy said, her heart aching slightly at the sight of her girlfriend's beautiful face. "But I'm glad we can still do this."
"Me too," Ona agreed, her eyes filled with love. "I've been looking forward to tonight all week."
They spent a few minutes catching up, talking about their days and sharing the little details of their lives that they would normally share in person. Lucy told Ona about her latest training sessions and how she was adjusting to being back in England, while Ona updated Lucy on how things were going at Barcelona.
Once they had caught up, it was time to start their movie. They had carefully chosen it together—a romantic film they had both been wanting to see. It was the kind of movie they would have curled up on the couch to watch together, but tonight, they had to settle for watching it on their separate screens.
"Ready?" Lucy asked, holding up the remote.
"Ready," Ona replied, doing the same.
"Okay, on three. One, two, three!"
They pressed play at the same time, and the movie began. Although they were watching from different countries, they were in sync, sharing the experience as if they were right next to each other. Throughout the film, they exchanged glances and comments over FaceTime, laughing at the same jokes and sighing at the same romantic moments.
As the movie progressed, the distance between them seemed to shrink. The glow of the screens, the sound of each other's voices, and the shared emotions made it feel almost as if they were together again. Lucy could see the way Ona's eyes sparkled when she laughed, and Ona could hear the familiar rhythm of Lucy's breath when she sighed. It was moments like these that reminded them why they were willing to work so hard to make their relationship last.
When the movie ended, neither of them was ready to say goodbye. They lingered on FaceTime, talking about the film, about their hopes for the future, and about how much they missed each other. It was bittersweet—wonderful to share these moments, but painful to be apart.
"I wish you were here," Ona said softly, her voice tinged with longing.
"I wish I was too," Lucy replied, her heart heavy with the same longing. "But we'll see each other soon. I promise."
They both knew the reality of their careers meant that they wouldn't be able to see each other as often as they would like, but they also knew that their love was worth the wait. They had faced challenges before, and they would face them again, but they were confident in the strength of their relationship.
As the night drew to a close, they said their goodbyes, each one reluctant to end the call. Finally, with a promise to talk again soon and words of love, they ended the FaceTime call. Lucy stared at the blank screen for a moment, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She missed Ona terribly, but she also felt a deep sense of contentment, knowing that their love was still strong, despite the distance.
In Barcelona, Ona felt the same. She missed Lucy with every fiber of her being, but she also knew that what they had was special—something worth holding onto, no matter how far apart they were. They both went to bed that night with a little less loneliness, having shared a night that reminded them just how much they meant to each other.
