Missing You

Nick Nelson had always thought of Italy as a place of beauty and romance—a country rich in history, art, and breathtaking landscapes. When his family announced they'd be taking a summer vacation to Tuscany, Nick had been excited. Who wouldn't want to spend two weeks exploring ancient cities, lounging on sun-soaked beaches, and eating all the pizza and pasta they could handle?

But as he stood on the terrace of the villa his family had rented, looking out at the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, all Nick could think about was how much he missed Charlie Spring.

The villa was stunning, with its rustic stone walls, terracotta roof, and vines creeping up the sides. The air was warm, filled with the scent of lavender and rosemary from the garden below. It was the kind of place that should have made Nick feel at peace, but instead, it felt empty—like something essential was missing.

Or rather, someone.

Nick sighed and leaned against the railing, his phone clutched in his hand. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape, but all he could focus on was the fact that he hadn't seen Charlie in nearly a week. They had been inseparable for so long, spending nearly every day together since they'd started dating. Being apart for this long felt strange, like a part of him had been left behind in England.

He opened his phone and scrolled through the photos they had taken together in the past few months—selfies at school, pictures from their trip to the beach, candid shots that Tori had snapped when they weren't looking. Each one brought a smile to Nick's face, but it also made his chest ache with longing. He missed Charlie's laugh, his smile, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about something he loved. He missed the way Charlie made him feel—like he was the most important person in the world.

His phone buzzed in his hand, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was a message from Charlie.

Charlie: Hey! How's Italy? I miss you.

Nick's heart skipped a beat as he quickly typed out a response.

Nick: It's beautiful, but I miss you too. Wish you were here with me.

He hesitated for a moment before sending another message.

Nick: It's not the same without you.

There was a brief pause before Charlie replied.

Charlie: I miss you too. So much. But I'm glad you're having a good time.

Nick could practically hear Charlie's voice in his head, soft and reassuring, even though he knew Charlie was probably feeling just as lonely as he was.

Nick: We'll have to come back together one day. Just the two of us.

Charlie: I'd love that.

Nick smiled at the thought of it—him and Charlie wandering through the streets of Florence, visiting art galleries, and eating gelato by the river. The idea of experiencing all of this with Charlie made the ache in his chest a little more bearable.

Nick's mum called from inside, announcing that dinner was ready. Reluctantly, he said goodbye to Charlie and headed inside to join his family. The dining room was cozy, with a long wooden table set with plates of pasta, fresh bread, and a bottle of wine. His family was already seated, chatting animatedly about the day's adventures.

As Nick took his seat, his mum noticed the distant look in his eyes.

"Everything okay, love?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

Nick forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, just tired from the day."

She gave him a knowing look but didn't press the issue. Nick appreciated that—his mum had always been understanding, and he knew she wouldn't pry unless he wanted to talk.

Dinner was delicious, but Nick found it hard to focus on the conversation around the table. His mind kept drifting back to Charlie, wondering what he was doing right now. Was he sitting in his room, reading one of his favorite books? Or maybe he was out with friends, trying to keep busy so he wouldn't miss Nick as much.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Nick tried to distract himself by watching a movie with his family, but the plot barely registered in his mind. Finally, when it was late enough that he could excuse himself without raising too many questions, Nick headed up to his room.

The room was small but cozy, with a large window that overlooked the countryside. Nick had picked this room specifically for the view, thinking it would be a nice place to relax and unwind. But now, as he lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling, all he felt was a deep sense of longing.

He reached for his phone again, his fingers hovering over Charlie's contact. He knew it was late, but he couldn't go to sleep without hearing Charlie's voice. Taking a deep breath, he hit the call button.

It rang a few times before Charlie picked up.

"Nick?" Charlie's voice was soft and a little groggy, like he had just woken up.

"Hey," Nick said, his voice cracking slightly. "Sorry if I woke you up."

"No, it's okay," Charlie replied, his voice warm and comforting. "I'm glad you called. I've been thinking about you."

Nick felt a wave of emotion wash over him. "I've been thinking about you too. A lot."

There was a brief pause, and then Charlie spoke again, his voice tinged with concern. "Are you okay? You sound... off."

Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm fine. I just... I miss you so much, Charlie. I thought I'd be okay, but it's hard being here without you."

Charlie was silent for a moment, and Nick could picture him biting his lip, trying to find the right words to say. "I miss you too," Charlie said finally. "It's hard for me too, but we'll get through it. It's only a little while longer."

Nick nodded, even though Charlie couldn't see him. "I know. I just wish you were here with me. Everything would be better if you were."

Charlie's voice was soft, full of understanding. "I wish I was there too. But just think—when you get back, we'll have so much to talk about, so many stories to share. And then we can start planning our own trip together."

The thought of that brought a small smile to Nick's face. "Yeah, you're right. I can't wait to see you."

"I can't wait to see you too," Charlie said. "Just a few more days, and then we'll be together again."

They talked for a little while longer, about everything and nothing, until Nick finally started to feel the tension in his chest ease. Just hearing Charlie's voice made everything seem a little brighter, a little more bearable.

"I should probably let you go," Nick said reluctantly. "It's late, and you need to sleep."

"Yeah," Charlie agreed, though Nick could hear the reluctance in his voice too. "But call me tomorrow, okay? Even if it's just for a minute."

"I will," Nick promised. "Goodnight, Charlie. I love you."

"Goodnight, Nick. I love you too."

After they hung up, Nick lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling again. The ache in his chest was still there, but it wasn't as sharp as before. Talking to Charlie had soothed him, reminded him that he wasn't alone in how he was feeling.

As he drifted off to sleep, Nick dreamed of Charlie—of the two of them walking hand in hand through the streets of Florence, laughing and talking, with the sun shining down on them. It was a beautiful dream, and when Nick woke the next morning, the memory of it lingered, giving him the strength to get through another day without Charlie by his side.

The rest of the trip passed in a blur of sightseeing and family activities. Nick tried to stay present, to enjoy the beauty of Italy, but his thoughts always seemed to drift back to Charlie. He found himself taking photos of everything, from the grand architecture of Florence to the simple beauty of a vineyard at sunset, so he could share them with Charlie when he got back.

On the last night of the trip, as Nick stood on the terrace watching the sun set over the hills, he felt a sense of peace settle over him. He had missed Charlie more than he ever thought possible, but it had also made him realize just how much Charlie meant to him. Being apart had been hard, but it had also strengthened their bond, making Nick appreciate their relationship even more.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Nick pulled out his phone and sent Charlie a message.

Nick: One more day, and then I'll be home. I can't wait to see you.

Charlie's reply came almost immediately.

Charlie: I can't wait to see you too. I've missed you so much.

Nick: I've missed you too. But this trip made me realize something important.

Charlie: What's that?

Nick smiled as he typed his response.

Nick: No matter where I go or what I do, you're always with me. And that's all I need.

There was a brief pause before Charlie replied.

Charlie: You're always with me too. I love you, Nick.

Nick: I love you too, Charlie. Always.

As Nick put his phone away and turned to head back inside, he felt a sense of contentment wash over him. He knew that no matter where life took him, as long as he had Charlie, he would be okay. They had something special, something worth holding on to, and Nick was determined to cherish it every day.

Tomorrow, he would be back home, back in Charlie's arms, and everything would be right again