Anna and Elsa were sitting on the piano bench in Anna's room. Elsa was playing a soft, sophisticated musical piece like it was nothing, gently pressing the keys with natural dexterity. Anna sat next to Elsa listened intently, soaking up every note and melody.

Anna had never been one to be talented in music. Her parents bought her the piano when she was younger for her to develop the skill, but it just wasn't one of her gifts. She asked her parents to keep the piano though, because whenever Elsa would come over she would fill the room with sweet melodies and powerful expressions that made Anna feel alive.

As Elsa ended one song and subtly transitioned into another without breaking, it suddenly hit Anna that Elsa would be gone next week, and that she wouldn't be able to hear her play until she came back for winter break.

A small sigh escaped from Anna's mouth. Aware of the limited time she had left with Elsa, she moved closer to her and gently leaned her head on her shoulder. Elsa paused in her playing, letting the last few notes she pressed resonate momentarily. "Anna, what's wrong?"

Without looking up at Elsa, Anna gave another quiet sigh before she spoke. "Four years is such a long time Elsa. It's such a long time." Anna heard Elsa take her hands off the keys. A still silence took over.

"Anna…"

"No, I know. You'll be coming back during your breaks. And we can send snail mail to each other."

The Royal Academy had very strict policies about communication and contact with their students; family and acquaintances were to contact the students only by conventional postal delivery service.

"I just…" A painful ball had welled up in Anna's throat. She closed her eyes as she felt them begin to water.

Anna felt Elsa's body turn and shift, and she reciprocated but kept her head down. They were now sitting with their bodies facing each other on the piano bench. Anna was looking at her hands anxiously wrapped within each other on her lap when Elsa reached over and took them into her own. "The first semester will go by in a flash and I'll be back before you know it. It might be fun too, being pen pals. We can send each other snacks and I'll send you cute postcards."

She continued to look down at their hands, wishing Elsa's words were enough to cheer her up.

Anna recalled back to a time when Elsa wasn't as resilient and composed as she was now. When Elsa was a little younger, she was unable to handle her stress very well, and as a daughter with many expectations put upon her, the stress was overwhelming. She shut everybody out, including Anna. The rift between them was more than Anna could bear and she frantically did everything in her power to rekindle their friendship. It was only after therapy for her anxiety problems that Elsa understood that along with practice and exposure, social support was one of the most important factors to recovery. Slowly but surely Elsa bravely started to open up to Anna, letting herself become vulnerable and imperfect. Anna embraced her wholly and unconditionally, and this alone was enough to give Elsa a solid foundation.

Looking up at Elsa's face, Anna noticed just how tired she must've been from all the packing and preparing for her trip. There were slight bags under her eyes, and her face didn't have the glow it usually did. Her eyes were sad and marked with worry for Anna.

"It's very important for her friends and family to understand that Elsa will always be anxious. She can learn how to cope and minimize it, but it will always be there. "

The voice of Elsa's therapist resonated in Anna's head, and she looked down at their hands again in guilt. She realized how selfish she was being. Elsa was about to make a gigantic life change, moving across the country to start the next chapter of her life and leaving all that she'd known behind.

Just how nervous and anxious do you think she is right now Anna? Pull yourself together. No time to talk about your problems right now, they're nothing compared to hers. It's time for you to be the brave one now.

Anna looked up and smiled as big as she could for Elsa. "You know, you're right. This could be interesting. I could send you your favorite cream soda every month. I bet they don't have it over there. And you'd better send me cute little letters with small drawings on the margins of the paper, and stickers and stuff like that." Anna was relieved to see some of the worry from Elsa's face disappear and a small smile start to form. "And if you even dare to write a boring old letter being like 'Dearest Anna' or 'Sincerely yours, Elsa', or if the writing has no little drawings here and there…" Anna pretended to be intimidating but kept her smile in place. "Then I won't send you your favorite cream soda and I'll send you crappy snacks. And there will be no drawings in my letters to you. And I'll type them in black text. Using…"

Anna brought her finger up to Elsa's nose. "Comic. Sans." She playfully tapped the tip of Elsa's perfect nose as she said emphasized the two words.

Elsa laughed, and Anna knew it was genuine. She couldn't help but giggle along with Elsa; her laughs were incredibly contagious. Nothing made her happier than seeing Elsa happy.

Is she awake?

Elsa and Anna were lying on their left sides on Anna's bed. Both of them were facing the wall parallel to the bed watching the television that was attached to the wall. Elsa slowly shifted her body to her other side to get a look at the clock on the nightstand to see what time it was.

2:23am.

Elsa carefully shifted her body back onto her left side so that she once again had a good view of the television screen. Not wanting the night to be over just yet, earlier Anna suggested they pop in a movie. It was halfway through, and Elsa hadn't been paying much attention.

Is she sleeping?

Anna hadn't spoken since the movie started and had stopped shuffling around for a while. She was very still, with the side of her body slowly rising and falling with her breathing. Elsa found herself slowly scanning Anna's side silhouette, taking in every curve and crevice. She needed Anna more than anybody would ever know. Anna was her rock.

How am I going to survive without her?

The nervous knot in her stomach seemed to tighten at the thought. Would snail mail be enough for them to keep in touch? Would she be able to cope with the stress of university without Anna by her side? Would Anna be alright alone?

Elsa's heart rate picked up its pace. Her breathing started to become rapid and shallow. Before her anxiety got any worse, Elsa remembered her coping techniques. Closing her eyes, she started breathing in and breathing out slowly.

Breathe in, two, three, four….out, two, three four. Rest for a moment…okay again. Breathe, two, three, four…out, two, three four.

After ten sets, Elsa felt calmer. She opened her eyes again to appreciate Anna's side silhouette one more time before falling asleep.

I wish I could h-

Suddenly without looking back, Anna reached her arm behind her and started feeling around the bed.

She's awake?!

Surprised that Anna hadn't been sleeping, Elsa looked down at the blindly probing hand. It finally found Elsa's hand and grabbed onto it, pulling it towards her body. Elsa complied and slid her body more closely towards Anna, but Anna wasn't satisfied yet. She kept pulling Elsa's arm until Elsa's body was right up against hers. Still holding onto Elsa's hand, Anna started to wrap Elsa's arm around her own body. Elsa held her breath.

Her right arm was now wrapped around Anna's waist with Anna's arm on top of hers, hugging it close. Elsa was propping herself up with her left elbow, still unsure with the situation. Wide-eyed, Elsa looked down at Anna. Her eyes were closed.

"D-do you want a blanket?" Elsa whispered close to Anna's ear. Without opening her eyes, Anna nodded.

Thankful for the opportunity to air out her slightly sweaty palm, Elsa pulled away and started to pull at the blanket from underneath them. Anna finally opened her eyes and started to kick the covers loose from under them. As Elsa started to get under the blankets, Anna took the remote and turned off the tv, enveloping them in darkness.

Just as Elsa got fully under the blankets, she again felt Anna's hand grab her own. Understanding what Anna wanted, Elsa obeyed, intentionally wrapping her arm around Anna's waist. But not yet fully satisfied, Anna reached down and brought Elsa's hand up to her chest, intertwining her fingers around Elsa's, clutching it like a small teddy bear. Heart racing, Elsa settled her body closely against Anna's back. Anna responded by snuggling her backside deeper into Elsa's body, leaving no room for doubt about what was happening in this moment.

I'm actually cuddling with her. We're spooning…

Under the covers with Anna pressed cozily up against her body, Elsa had never felt as comfortable and safe as she did now. Burrowing her face deeper into Anna's hair, Elsa temporarily tucked away the thoughts of their impending separation next week. She relished this moment, hoping sleep would never come.