Miles Apart, Hearts Together

Chapter 1: A Glimpse Across the Screen

Amara lay sprawled on her bed, scrolling through her phone. The soft hum of the evening breeze filled her small room in Manila, carrying in sounds of city life just outside her window. She was mindlessly swiping through posts when something made her pause. A photograph—simple yet striking—caught her eye. It was a candid shot of a sunset dipping behind the rolling dunes, casting a warm glow over an unfamiliar landscape. The caption read, "Sometimes, it's just you and the vastness." She clicked on the profile: Karim R. from Algiers, Algeria.

Without thinking, she hit the like button.

On the other side of the world, Karim was taking a break from his studies, staring at the screen. A notification popped up—a like from "Amara D." Curiosity piqued, he clicked on her profile. He was met with snapshots of beaches, bustling markets, and endless skies over Manila. It felt like he was seeing her world through her eyes, and something about it pulled him in. Maybe it was her smile, the way it lit up even the simplest photos. Or maybe it was that the two worlds felt so different yet strangely connected through a small, glowing screen.

Feeling bold, he sent her a message: "Hey, thanks for the like. Beautiful places in your photos. Is that your hometown?"

Amara's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at the message, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yep, that's Manila. I've never seen a desert like the one in your picture. It looks... peaceful."

They began to chat, words flowing easier than expected. Their worlds felt vast, yet somehow smaller with each message they exchanged. By the end of the night, they both realized this wasn't just a simple conversation. It was the start of something new, something neither of them quite understood yet but both were eager to explore.