Whispers of the Heart

The Distance

Despite their best efforts, the distance between Hana and Riku

grew. Riku's work commitments kept him away for days at a time,

and Hana found herself feeling increasingly lonely. She threw

herself into her art, using it as an outlet for her emotions.

One evening, as Hana was working late in her studio, she received

a call from Riku. "Hey, Hana. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make

it back tonight. There's an issue with the project that needs my

attention."

Hana's heart sank. "I understand, Riku. Just... don't forget about

us, okay?"

"I won't," Riku promised, but Hana could hear the exhaustion in

his voice.

As the days turned into weeks, Hana and Riku's conversations

became shorter and less frequent. They both felt the strain, but

neither wanted to admit how much it was affecting them.

One night, Hana decided to visit Riku at his office, hoping to

surprise him. She brought a homemade dinner and a small

painting she had made for him. When she arrived, she found Riku

hunched over his desk, surrounded by blueprints and paperwork.

"Riku," Hana said softly, placing the dinner on his desk. "I thought

you could use a break."

Riku looked up, his eyes tired but grateful. "Hana, you didn't have

to do this."

"I wanted to," Hana replied, handing him the painting. "I miss you,

Riku."

Riku took the painting, his expression softening. "I miss you too,

Hana. I'm sorry for being so distant."

They shared a quiet meal together, savoring the rare moment of

closeness. As they talked, they realized that despite the

challenges, their love for each other remained strong. They vowed

to find a way to balance their careers and relationship, knowing

that their connection was worth fighting for.