It's a struggle, and perhaps, that isn't the right word. Just, today, she feels alone, and the pages of the book that she's trying to read just aren't speaking to her. They mean nothing; the page might as well be blank. Amelia rolls over, glancing down at her cellphone, turning the screen on, just to face a blank homescreen. No text messages, no calls, and there's a remote silence across the world.

She sits up, staring down at the contacts section, desiring to click on it and just say something, yet she can't find the words. Amelia feels at a loss, and how do you begin to say what you are facing together while apart, especially when it feels so isolating? She stares down at it, wishing that she was back in the living room, yesterday, playing cards with Maddie, and letting her mind focus strictly on that.

Yet, she isn't trying to reach out to her twin sister who always listens and understands her, that desires no difficulty in speech, just relaxation and closeness, regardless of whether words don't say enough or get butchered anyway. Maddie's her sister, she's always had her, and that's different than this.

They say, not to talk about it, and she believes that, which is why she sends random encouraging messages to her friends to remind them that they can open up to her, and that they can find good things to talk about, simultaneously. Amelia wrinkles her nose as she finally lands on his contact information. Should she message him? It's probably late or early or inconvenient to send him that now.

She stares down at his name before finally giving up and sending out a quick message, 'Hey, I know it's late for me to send a message, but, I miss you.' It weighs heavy down her chest and into her heart, and she relaxes against the bed, reminding herself to breathe easy.

'Oh, it's fine. : ) I miss you too, can't visit, right now.' It lights up her phone, and Amelia smiles despite herself.

'Doesn't that suck?' Amelia snuggled against her blankets, 'I just want to hug you and talk to you, and I really miss holding your hand.'

'Me too.' He pauses, 'I just miss being around you, and you, you know?'

'Yeah, I do.' Amelia sighs as she fiddles with her phone, and she knows it's selfish to complain at a time like this, so she tries not to downplay anything or grumble excessively, because those sick matter more than she could ever hope to know. They matter to her, and yet, she knows none of them. But, she worries for them, and for her family and for her friends, and for Toris as far away as he is.

'So, what's been keeping you entertained?' It's amusing to read, as if it's something else entirely.

'Oh, just a novel. I've been trying to read it since July, but suddenly, I have a lot more time on my hands, you know? I'm like halfway done, but it's not clicking, you know?'

'A novel?' He answers quickly, 'I'm surprised, it wasn't the new Animal Crossing game?'

'Oh, I thought, I'd be productive. Maddie's been playing it though, and you know, as the older twin, I should not steal the Switch from her.'

'Very thoughtful.' He responded.

'I know, you'd never guess.' Amelia's back to laughing, relaxing against her boyfriend's joking messages.

'So, you wouldn't be willing to play together tomorrow? Or something else, I know it's not the same as being there, but...'

'Only, you'd be nervous about requesting to play together while you are overseas. Of course, I'll play with you. Maddie's pretty nice, most the time, you know? She'll let me play. Just tell me when.'

'I'll text you once we've slept.'

'Okay.' Amelia giggled, 'Were you struggling to find words too?'

'It's just one more struggle, and besides, we'll get through every struggle together, if you'll let me be by your side?'

'Of course. Only you.' Amelia sent it and smiled as she laid down to finally sleep with something to look forward to tomorrow despite the daily struggle lately.