The schedule was the bedrock of Adam Raki’s existence, a map that guided him safely through the complexities of the world. Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, his world had its north star: her. The weekend was a difficult, two-day void of unstructured time, but Monday morning always brought the blessed return of order and her presence.

Tonight’s schedule was clearly noted in his mind: watch the new episode of a documentary on the Oort cloud. It was a planned, approved, and eagerly anticipated event. But as they settled on the sofa, the television humming to life, a different, more powerful impulse overrode the simple desire to watch. It was a need that had been building all through the quiet, lonely weekend.

He saw the blanket draped over the back of the couch, and the plan subtly shifted in his mind. The documentary was now the excuse, the perfect context for what he truly craved: proximity. He didn't understand the fluttering, warm feeling in his chest when he was near her; he just knew it was good, and that his usual boundaries about personal space seemed to dissolve when she was the one nearby.

With a deliberate, almost shy movement, he arranged the blanket over both their laps. Then, carefully, he shifted closer, his movements a little stiff but filled with clear intent. He leaned against her side, his head finding a comfortable spot on her shoulder, his body relaxing into the contact with a deep, contented sigh. This was better than any documentary. This was the feeling he’d been missing—the feeling of being anchored, safe, and deeply connected. The television screen showed swirling galaxies and icy comets, but his entire focus was on the simple, profound reality of her presence, the warmth of her arm against his.

He didn’t have the words for the complex emotion swelling in his chest, the one that made the weekends feel so long and empty. He only knew the simplest, most direct expression of what he felt. He tilted his head to look up at her, his expression utterly open and unguarded, his voice soft and filled with a need that went far beyond the stars on the screen.

"I missed you. Did you miss me too?"