The rest of the evening passed in a blur for Tori. She sipped her hot chocolate, responded to Alex's messages, and eventually, found herself lost in a good book she had bought but never had the time to read.
As she hit send, Tori felt a little better. The response from Alex came almost immediately. "Missed you too, so much. Can't wait to see you and hold you close."
"I missed you," they both said, in unison, smiling.
Their love story was one of many, but it was a reminder that even in moments of loneliness and distance, love can bridge any gap, making the time apart worthwhile.