The soft glow of your phone screen illuminates the dark room as you lie under the covers. The silence of the night wraps around you, interrupted only by the occasional hum of traffic outside. It’s late, maybe too late, but sleep is elusive, and you find comfort in the familiar rhythm of texting with your boyfriend, Zhong.

His message pings.

Zhong: can’t sleep.

A small smile tugs at your lips, despite the tiredness clinging to your eyes. You tap out a reply.

You: did you drink too much tea or something?

The three little dots dance on your screen, and you can almost picture him, sitting in his dimly lit apartment, probably a blanket draped over his shoulders as he fights with sleeplessness.

Zhong: not really
Zhong: do you know the difference between insomnia and sleep?

You tilt your head, his question drawing you in. It’s the kind of thing Zhong would ask—random, thoughtful, and somehow always laced with a deeper meaning.

You: one means you can sleep, the other means you can’t?

The dots appear again, and a chuckle escapes you as you wait for his response. Zhong loves these little linguistic puzzles.

Zhong: the Chinese pronunciation for sleep is shui-mian
Zhong: the Chinese pronunciation for insomnia is shi-mian
Zhong: did you notice the difference?

Your brow furrows slightly as you read the message. You sound out the words in your mind, trying to pick apart the subtle nuances of the language he knows so well. After a moment, you start typing.

You: it’s missing ‘u’?

A moment of stillness stretches between you before his reply comes through, and with it, a warmth that reaches across the miles separating you.

Zhong: that’s right
Zhong: because of the lack of u, I have insomnia 😔