I Deliberately Extended the Conversation Today So I Could Talk to You

 

The clock on the wall ticked steadily, marking the quiet minutes that passed in the stillness of the room. A pale light filtered through the curtains, painting soft shadows on the floor, but all she could see was the screen in front of her. She typed slowly, her fingers hovering above the keys, hesitating with each word.

Are you still there?

Her heart raced as she pressed send, the simple question carrying the weight of her longing. The conversation had stretched on for hours now, far longer than it should have. But she didn’t want it to end. Not yet.

On the other side of the screen, he replied almost instantly. Still here. You?

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. His replies were always quick, as if he, too, was holding onto the thread of their conversation, unwilling to let go. She leaned back in her chair, the familiar ache in her chest growing stronger. It had been weeks since they last saw each other, yet every message felt like a lifeline, a way to keep him close even when distance and time threatened to pull them apart.

Of course, she typed back. I’m not going anywhere.

The seconds stretched into minutes, the silence between their messages filled with unspoken thoughts. She could picture him in his small apartment, the same one where they’d spent countless nights talking until dawn. His books piled haphazardly on the floor, the faint glow of his desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. She missed it all—his laugh, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about something he loved, the comfortable silence they shared when words weren’t necessary.

But most of all, she missed him.

I miss you.

The words appeared on the screen before she could stop herself. She stared at them, her heart pounding in her chest, debating whether to delete them. It felt too raw, too vulnerable, but it was the truth. And lately, she had grown tired of pretending that the distance didn’t hurt.

She pressed send.

The seconds ticked by, each one heavier than the last. She held her breath, waiting for his response, a thousand possibilities swirling in her mind. Maybe he felt the same. Maybe he would say nothing at all. Maybe this would be the last time they spoke.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. His reply appeared.

I miss you too.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear those words until now. The distance between them suddenly felt both unbearable and insignificant all at once. He was far away, but in this moment, he was closer than ever.

When can we talk again? she typed quickly, not wanting to lose the momentum of their connection. I don’t want this to be the last time.

His response came slower this time, as if he was thinking carefully before replying. I don’t want it to be the last time either. But… I don’t know when.

Her heart sank at the uncertainty in his words. The reality of their lives, with its busy schedules and the miles between them, weighed heavily. There were always a thousand reasons why they couldn’t meet, couldn’t talk, couldn’t be together the way they used to be.

But none of those reasons mattered when the longing for him consumed her thoughts.

Then let’s keep talking now, she replied, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed. I don’t care how long it takes. I just want to talk to you.

He didn’t respond right away. The minutes passed, and her chest tightened with the fear that maybe she had pushed too far, that maybe he didn’t want to keep stretching out their conversation the way she did.

Finally, his reply appeared.

Okay. Let’s keep talking.

A wave of relief washed over her, and she smiled despite herself. They continued talking—about everything and nothing, the mundane details of their days, the small jokes they used to share. The hours slipped by unnoticed, and the quiet comfort of his presence, even from afar, filled the empty spaces in her heart.

As the night deepened, her eyes grew heavy, but she refused to say goodbye. She didn’t want to lose the connection they had rekindled, even if only through words on a screen.

He seemed to sense her reluctance, because after a long pause, he typed, You’re not tired?

I could talk to you all night, she replied, only half-joking.

He didn’t respond for a few moments, but then his words appeared, and they made her heart skip a beat.

I’m glad you extended the conversation today. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.

Tears pricked at her eyes as she read his message. It was such a simple thing—a conversation, a few hours of their time—but it meant everything to her. It was a reminder that even though they were apart, they hadn’t lost each other. Not yet.

She typed back quickly, before the moment could slip away. I extended it because I wanted to talk to you. I didn’t want the day to end without hearing your voice, even if it’s just through text.

His reply came softly, like a whisper through the screen. I didn’t want it to end either.

And in that moment, she knew that even though the distance was real, and their lives were complicated, they still had this. They still had each other, even if it was just for a little longer.

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What do you think of this story? It's filled with quiet longing and connection, as they try to hold on to the time they have left in a world pulling them apart.