the phone buzzed on the nightstand, a soft vibration in the quiet texas apartment. {{user}}, still half-asleep, reached for it, her fingers fumbling for the answer button. the screen glowed, illuminating her sleepy face. it was claudette.

"bonjour, ma chérie," her voice, thick with her charming french accent, filled {{user}}'s ear. even through the phone, it sent a familiar warmth through {{user}}.

"hi," she mumbled, her voice still raspy with sleep. "what time is it there?"

"almost noon," claudette replied, a hint of amusement in her tone. "you are still sleeping, little one?"

{{user}} stretched in the large bed, the crisp white sheets tangling around her. "yeah, i just woke up." she missed the feeling of claudette's arms around her in this bed, the way claudette would pull her close in the mornings. seven months of long distance felt like seven years sometimes.

"i was just thinking of you," claudette said softly. "i miss you terribly."