The night before their reunion felt heavier than any night they had endured before.
For months, they had wished for this moment to arrive. They had dreamed of it, counted the days, whispered their hopes into late-night calls. And now that it was here, neither of them wanted to hang up.
---
Evan sat on his bed, suitcase zipped but not yet pushed aside. He had checked everything three times—passport, ticket, wallet, charger, even a small wrapped gift he had chosen carefully for Luna. Still, he couldn't rest. His heart was racing in a rhythm that refused to slow down.
On the other side of the world, Luna lay under her blanket, the glow of her phone illuminating her face. She wasn't sleepy either. Every second felt precious, too precious to waste by closing her eyes.
"Are you ready?" she asked, her voice quiet as if the night might shatter if she spoke too loudly.
Evan gave a nervous laugh. "As ready as I'll ever be. Though I keep thinking… what if I forget how to act like a normal person in front of you?"
Luna smiled. "You've never been normal with me. Don't start now."
They both laughed, and the sound eased their nerves for a moment.
---
The conversation drifted.
They talked about the little things—her classes, his work, what snacks she wanted him to try first, what gifts she hoped he would like. But beneath all the words was a current of silence, a truth they were both holding: this was the last night they would be apart.
Evan grew quiet for a while before finally asking, "Do you realize tomorrow… the distance we've been fighting all this time just… disappears?"
Luna's heart skipped. She rolled onto her side, holding her phone closer, as if proximity through a screen could be enough. "Yes. And it scares me a little."
"Me too," he admitted. His voice softened. "But I'd rather be scared standing next to you than brave with miles between us."
---
The clock kept moving, though neither of them wanted it to.
At one point, Luna's eyes grew heavy, and Evan caught her drifting off. "Hey," he whispered gently, "you should sleep. You have a big day tomorrow."
She shook her head stubbornly, forcing her eyes open. "Not yet. Just a little longer. Let me stay with you."
Evan's chest ached at her words. He wanted to reach through the screen, to hold her hand, to promise her that she didn't have to fight sleep alone anymore. Tomorrow, she wouldn't.
"Alright," he said softly. "Just a little longer."
---
They ended up falling asleep with the call still on, their breathing syncing across oceans.
And as the night surrendered to dawn, a new chapter in their story was about to begin—
the moment where distance would finally end.