Long Distance Love Letters

Distance

"You seemed distracted during the session."

Gilbert turned to see Hazel, a girl from his study group. He had been walking home from a study session when he heard her.

It was the beginning of December. All of the students were looking forward to going home for Christmas in a week, but they had a big exam to get through first.

"Yeah," Gilbert admitted, letting her catch up to him before continuing walking. "Sorry. I guess I'm just preoccupied with my excitement to go home."

Hazel nodded, putting her hands in her coat pockets. "I can imagine. Seeing your family again must be very thrilling."

The way she worded her statement made him turn. "Are you not going home?"

"Oh, no, I'm going home." She shrugged. "Just not much of a family to go home to, I guess."

At his confused glance, she continued. "My parents both died when I was younger. That and no siblings..."

"I'm sorry," Gilbert said sincerely. "My parents died when I was younger, too."

Hazel sighed. "Life isn't fair sometimes." She glanced over at him, her brown eyes locking on his for a moment. "Anyway, good night."

She started to walk off.

"Hazel!" Gilbert called.

She turned to him curiously.

"I found my family in a way that I would never expect. Keep your mind wide open."

A ghost of a smile appeared on her face.

"Good night," Gilbert said before heading back to his dorm.

A letter from Anne was waiting on his desk. He smiled softly and picked it up, opening it.

Dear Gil,
I guess this will be the last letter before Christmas. I can't wait to see you. These months have been pretty difficult.
There is something I have been wondering. This could completely plausibly be my imagination, as you know I have a big one, but I thought I'd ask anyway. Sometimes, in some of your letters, it seems like you become almost distant halfway through. Again, I could be reading too much into nothing, and if it's true, I don't claim to know the reason. It's just worried a little due to how much I care about you.
Well, anyways, the next time I talk to you will be in person and I am counting down the days. I love you.
Yours,
Anne

Gilbert looked up from the letter, feeling as if a tiny nail had wormed into his heart.

It couldn't be possible, could it? He still loved Anne with his entire heart, mind, and soul. There was no way.

He forced himself to put the letter into his drawer with all of the other ones and try and get to sleep, hoping the days until he could see her again would go that much quicker.