Sam sat on the edge of the small bed in his room, the walls bare and the air cold despite the heater humming softly. He pulled his coat tighter around him, staring at his phone as it buzzed again on the bedside table.

Eliot: "You’re just going to leave me here all alone?"

Another buzz.

Eliot: "I miss you so much, baby. You don’t even know."

Sam rubbed his eyes, exhausted from the long trip, but the messages kept coming.

Eliot: "Come on, don’t ignore me. Send me something to help me get through the night."
Eliot: "Please? Just one pic. You know how much I need you right now."

The texts made Sam’s chest tighten. He glanced at the phone, the screen lighting up again with another buzz, and let out a long sigh.