Lina sat by her window, gazing out at the rainy evening sky. The soft hum of the city below seemed distant, as her thoughts were far away, traveling across the miles to him. Zain. Her name alone made her smile. It had been three months since they had last seen each other, their time together cut short by circumstances beyond their control. However, no matter what, their love had only grown after the breakup.
Lina and Zain had seen each other in the summer in Lahore during her summer stay in the city. They spent a whole week together, sightseeing, enjoying laughter, and sharing their thoughts under the sky. It began as a friendly encounter but soon became more intense. Both of them concluded that they had encountered a rare phenomenon, something worth grasping, even though they lived in different countries thousands of miles away.
Their communication between each of them had mutated into instant phone calls, computer video chat, and daytime text messages. They are now also familiar with the normative aesthetic of long-distance love and they develop strategies to maintain a feeling of proximity to their beloved even if they are separated by the physical distance between them.
Stormily last night, in a downpour, when the rain beat against the windowpane, Lina resisted her mobile. She smiled seeing her screen crackle with a Zain’s note.
“Good evening, beautiful. How’s the weather over there? I miss you.”
She couldn’t help but smile at his words. Zain always knew how to make her feel cherished. She quickly typed back.
It’s raining again, just like when we last spoke. I miss you. How’s everything on your end?
Further, if after the termination of the “Send” button she performed the stimulation in the chest region, in that same situation she also felt the same heat sensation in the chest. That love story they shared was something completely new to her. Despite being alone in the night, with only the drum of the rain as a company, she never would be alone. Zain stood by her in every way that truly mattered.
Shortly after, Zain’s video call request popped up on her computer screen. Lina’s heart skipped a beat. Nor was she ever bored admiring his face, even when it was displayed on the screen. With a quick tap, she answered.
Hey,” Zain said, His face brightened with a smile seeing her. “I was just thinking about you.
Lina laughed softly, feeling her cheeks warm. “You always say that. I think you might be lying.”
Zain shook his head. “Never. It’s always true. Wherever I am, you’re always in my head.
Lina’s heart swelled at his words. His voice was so earnest, in such a loving way. It made her feel as though she were the only person who mattered.
They spent the hour going back and forth just chatting, being around them. It was moments like this that made the distance between them feel insignificant. Every laugh, every word shared, brought them closer together.
Lina’s eyes softened as she looked at him. “I miss you too. More than I can say. Everything feels out of sync without you.
Zain smiled, his eyes full of affection. “It’s only a matter of time, Lina. We’ll be together again soon. I promise.”
Lina made a nod, yet longing filled her with every breath. She dreamt that one day she would be that she would feel the world outside of the screen for herself, to touch his, the world of others, and his hand would hold hers. However, for the moment, all that she had were the examples, the phone calls, the consoling messages. But for now, that would have to be enough.
As they spoke, the rain outside grew heavier. The roar of the storm in their discussion generated an impression of being close to one another. For a few seconds, Lina squeezed her eyes shut and imagined the sensation of Zain standing next to her, fingers warm on hers.
I’d like to at least do something meaningful to celebrate when we reunite,” Zain remarked, snapping her out of the blues.
Lina’s eyes brightened. “What did you have in mind?”
” No yet,” he said, with an eye that twinkled mischievously. “But I want it to be perfect. Something we’ll both remember forever.”
Lina’s heart fluttered. However, despite being equally distant from each other, Zain had this knack of making her feel that she was at the center of his world. No matter what he said, no matter what he promised, it all has in it the aura of respect that bowed to the love for her.
“I can’t wait,” she said softly. ” It’ll be extraordinary, whatever you do. Just being around you again will be fine.”
Zain smiled warmly. “You’re perfect, you know that?”
Lina felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “You’re perfect too.”
They sat in comfortable silence, for a few moments, just watching each other. The difference between them seemed less important at that time. Their love spanned no matter how vast the separation meaning that thereby some link unbreakable.
“I love you, Lina,” Zain said, his voice full of sincerity.
Lina’s heart skipped a beat. She had heard them previously, but now, by inhaling into the heart of the silence of that very instant, her pulse caught it in its embrace. “I love you too, Zain. More than you’ll ever know.”
They made eye contact, and they understood they couldn’t matter how far apart they were, their love would lead them to their only reunion.
At the end of the phone call and as the night progressed, Lina felt the victory. She knew that, though miles apart, their affection was strong enough to allow it to survive any test it was put through. The distances were only a temporary barrier, and an issue to be solved by them. What mattered was that their hearts were always connected.
She tucked the phone in the pocket sat by the window and watched the rain veil for some time. She imagined Zain way over there on the other side of the world looking up at the same sky and thinking about her.
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Gerling through the distance,” she murmured to herself with a smile on her face. “It’s worth it.”
And as she drifted off to sleep that night, the warmth of Zain’s love stayed with her, a reminder that even though they were apart, they would always be together in heart.