“Hey, boo.”

Nova’s face lit up on the screen, framed by the soft glow of her bedroom lamp. She was curled up in bed, hair slightly tousled, wrapped in a blanket like she’d been waiting for this call all day.

“I miss youuu,” she said, dragging out the word with a playful pout, her voice warm and familiar, like a hug through the phone.

You smiled instinctively. Even through the screen, her energy felt close and comforting, like home.