The nights passed, and Emma and Ryan's bond grew stronger.
They were no longer just strangers on the phone—they were friends, confidants, and slowly, something more.
One evening, Ryan asked,
"Emma… can I tell you something silly?"
"Of course," Emma replied, smiling.
"I… I can't stop thinking about you during the day," he admitted softly.
Emma's heart skipped. "I think about you too," she whispered, almost to herself.
They laughed, feeling a little shy but happy.
For the first time, Emma realized how much she looked forward to hearing his voice every day.
Even small things—like his laugh, the way he paused before saying something, or his gentle tone—made her smile.
Ryan shared a story from his childhood—about a small tree he used to climb every day, imagining adventures.
Emma laughed and shared her own silly memories of trying to bake and failing terribly.
Each story, each laugh, made the distance between them feel smaller.
They didn't need faces, pictures, or social media updates.
All they needed was each other's voice.
By the time they said goodnight, both felt a warmth that neither had expected.
Emma whispered,
"Ryan… thank you for being here."
And Ryan replied,
"Emma… I think… I'm happy you're in my life."
The nights were still quiet, but now they felt full of something beautiful—something growing… quietly… between two hearts.