Never Say Goodbye or A Love Story in Hellos

Eleven.

The screen in front of Sasha is black before Nia´s face appears on it. She looks tired but she is smiling.  That smile alone makes staying up late worth it.

The time difference is very inconvenient. Six hours, not long enough so that they can talk in the mornings or evenings but not short enough that they are free at the same time.  

So they compromise like this, when Nia just got home from school and Sasha is already wearing her blue pajamas, ready for bed. It is not ideal but they are both glad to see each other. Their texting has gotten infrequent and almost brisk with how busy they both are.

And so they are both happy to steal these minutes every day, to spend some time with each other, Even if not together, at least not apart. The thought makes Sasha grin.

“Well hello there. Someone is in a good mood today,” teases Nia from the other side of the world. Her voice sounds tinny coming from the speakers. Sasha´s grin widens. “Of course. I´m talking to you, aren´t I?” It feels good to see Nia smile and hear her voice.

Today had been exhausting. As if she knows it, Nia promptly asks her girlfriend to retell her day. Sasha sighs, and drags a hand over her face, her grin long gone. “Long,” she admits. ”I´m still getting used to this editor stuff. Had this horrible moment this morning where I realized I do actually have to know basic economy junk. It´s devastating.” Nia snorts at her sarcasm.

“There was actually something good about that dumb Introduction to Economy lecture back in uni. I feel betrayed.” She pouts for good measure and Nia laughs. “Something good other than meeting my beautiful self of course, I´m sure?”

Cheeky dork.

Sasha is smiling again, nodding. “Of course. But why? I thought I had left numbers behind for good and today my boss talked to me about sale numbers and I am very much not a fan.” She knows she is whining exaggeratedly now.

Nia giggles and then asks about the poor guy Sasha had complained about a few days ago. The one that had never heard of the passive voice apparently. Sasha knows she is young and still new at the publishing house where she works now. She knows they do not trust her with the more promising clients yet, but it shows.

And it is frustrating if she is being honest. “I have a meeting with him in a few days. But I´m not too optimistic. We´ll see,” she tells honestly. Nia is grinning. She is enjoying this. Sasha sticks her tongue out at her. And then they are giggling again.

This is getting a bit ridiculous, Sasha thinks, but she is so happy.

Nia´s eyes shine bright even through the screen.   

“And you? How are the kids?” Sasha asks her. That gets a long suffering sigh out of Nia. “Those shitheads,” she complains, “The sixth graders are okay. I started a project with them today and they seem to like it so far. Thank God. The fourth grades though.”

She is grumbling. Sasha takes pity in her and asks her to explain in the most understanding tone she can muster, when Nia is pouting like that. “They are beasts. Cute as hell anyways for some reason,” her girlfriend clarifies, “But they just can´t sit still. And Joshua, you know the one I told you about?”

She waits for Sasha to remember and nod, before she tells her about the newest incident in class involving the boy. When it is not one of his anger episodes he is a hilarious child, according to Nia.

When she is done recounting the story though, her smile slips off her face. “I´m having trouble getting through to his parents. They seem so overburdened with their son. Nice and friendly and all but I don´t know if they aren´t a bit overwhelmed at the moment. His anger outbursts keep getting worse.”

Her from has morphed into a different expression. Worried. Sad. “So not an ideal situation. I´ve been thinking I´ll probably talk to Mike, you know, our coordinator. Maybe we can find a solution. See if we should step in and stuff, get professional assistance.” Nia´s voice trails off, uncertain.

Sasha sighs. She wishes she could be therefor Nia right now. Take the worries off her shoulders. But she cannot. So this has to be enough instead.

“Nia. Baby. You´re doing well, okay? The fact that you´re taking this seriously already says everything. You´re a good teacher. You care for this boy.” She tries her best to sound reassuring.

“I think it is a good idea to talk to this Mike and then you can decide what to do. You´ll figure this out, I know that. You being there for a student and paying attention is the right thing.” She smiles. “Really, you´re perfect for this job. Just please also pay attention to yourself.”

Sash knows Nia can get lost in her own head sometimes, much like Sasha herself. She wants her to take care of herself. To not put others before herself.

So she tells her girlfriend exactly this and gives her a smile. It is a small one, intimate. And it has Nia smiling right back through the crinkly screen, just as softly.

“I miss you,” Nia says. It is collected, the way she says it, but her smile drops a little. Sasha feels the same. “I know. I miss you, too. Only two more months.”

They have not really talked about the after. Sasha knows they both dread it a bit. She has the job at the publishing house now, a good opportunity she is certain will pay off.

She also knows that Nia has applied to multiple teaching jobs in their area. Nia has not said anything about replies and Sasha does not really dare to ask right now. Maybe when they have the time to chat a bit longer on the weekend.

She decides, as she lies in bed later, they will figure it out. They have managed so far.