Amara's routine changed subtly in the days following their last conversation. Each morning, before heading out to her classes, she found herself lingering on her phone, hoping to see a message from Karim. He was seven hours behind, so while she was starting her day in Manila, Karim was often just finishing his in Algiers.
One morning, as sunlight filtered through her window, she saw a new notification.
"Good morning, Amara! Or I guess, good night here. How's my favorite person across the world doing?"
She laughed softly, feeling warmth spread across her cheeks. Karim had a way of making her feel special, even from thousands of miles away.
"Good morning! I'm just getting ready for my day. I wish I had time to sit around and talk, but I'm already late!"
"Then I'll keep it short—have an amazing day. I'll be here when you get back."
She replied quickly, tucking her phone away as she rushed out the door. Throughout the day, his words stayed with her, a constant reminder that somewhere across the world, someone was thinking of her.
That night, after hours of studying and scrolling absentmindedly through her notes, she finally opened her messages again, relieved to see Karim was online.
"Long day?" he asked, echoing their familiar greeting from before.
"Always. But better now that we're talking."
"Good. You're part of my routine now, you know?"
The words made her heart skip. For a moment, she let herself imagine how different things might be if there was no screen, no distance between them. Just two people, face-to-face, sharing moments that right now were only words on a screen.
"Same here," she replied. "I wonder what it'd be like if you were here. Just to spend a day together in person."
"I think about that too, all the time," he typed back. "And I don't know... maybe one day it'll be possible. I hope it will be."
They lingered in the possibilities, not saying much, just enjoying the idea of a future where they didn't have to wait for messages to bridge the distance. Their conversation slowed, eventually drifting into the early hours of Karim's morning and Amara's midnight.
"Goodnight, Karim."
"Good morning, Amara."
With a smile, she finally set her phone down, feeling the familiar pull of sleep. But before she drifted off, a thought crossed her mind, clear and steady—a feeling that what they shared was more than just words on a screen. And with each day, that feeling only grew stronger.
YOU ARE READING
Miles Apart, Hearts Together
RomanceAmara, a free-spirited girl from Manila, never imagined that a single 'like' on social media could change her life. But when she connects with Karim, a reserved and passionate young man from Algiers, her world suddenly feels both larger and smaller...
