The pocket watch ticked softly on Ally’s desk beside the compass. Two symbols now, side by side—time and direction, quietly urging her toward something bigger.

But even as she traced her fingers over their polished surfaces, a thought gnawed at her heart: “How long can love survive without touch? Without presence?”

The Tension Before the Leap

That evening, Jack’s voice came through her earbuds, low and thoughtful.

Jack:
"Ally… sometimes I stare at this screen and it feels so small for what I feel for you."
"I want to know how your laugh sounds when it’s not coming through static."
"I want to see how your eyes light up when you roll them at me in person."
"Do you ever wonder if… maybe it’s time?"
"Time to turn this into something real."

Ally’s heart raced. She curled into her blanket tighter, whispering back.

Ally:
"Jack… I think about it every day."
"I want to walk beside you, not just hear you walking on the other end of the line."
"I want to know if your hugs feel like I imagine."
"But what if… the magic fades when we meet? What if we’re different in person?"
"I’m terrified of losing what we already have."

The silence that followed wasn’t empty—it was a pause heavy with longing, fear, and an unspoken agreement that their hearts had already decided.

The Decision

The following Friday, they planned a longer call. Jack’s face filled her laptop screen, tired but glowing with something deeper.

Jack:
"I can’t keep us on pause anymore, Ally."
"I booked a ticket. Next month. I’m coming to see you."
"I need to know how your hand feels in mine."
"I need to see if our hearts race the same way in person as they do across wires."
"I don’t care if I’m nervous, I don’t care if it’s hard—I just need to be with you."

Ally gasped, tears instantly pooling. Her heart hammered in disbelief, but joy spread across her face like sunlight breaking through clouds.

Ally:
"Jack… you did what? You’re really coming?"
"I can’t believe this is happening… I’ve dreamed of this moment every night."
"I want to memorize the way you walk toward me, the way you smile when you see me first."
"I’m terrified—but more than that, I’m ready."
"Yes, Jack. Yes… come. Come home to me."

 The Preparation

In the days that followed, Ally found herself more restless than ever. She rearranged her apartment, hung soft lights, placed the compass, watch, and telescope neatly on her desk. Each object now looked less like an antique and more like a promise.

Her thoughts were a storm—excitement, fear, hope.

(Ally): “This is real now. No more hiding behind screens. I’ll finally know if love can live in the same room.”

Jack, meanwhile, was equally restless. He spent evenings pacing his apartment, trying on shirts, imagining her reactions.

(Jack): “Will she recognize me in a crowd? Will she still want me when she sees the real me—flaws, nervous ticks, all of it?”

Ally:
"You think I won’t run too? Jack, I’ll probably trip over my own feet getting to you."
"I’m scared, yes, but it’s the good kind of scared."
"The kind that means this matters."
"Promise me one thing—don’t overthink tomorrow."
"Just… come find me. I’ll be the girl holding her breath until you do."

Their laughter mixed with tears, exhaustion, and overwhelming anticipation. The screen blurred with emotion, but both knew—this was the last night they’d ever have to say “goodnight” through pixels.

As Ally lay in bed, she reached for the pocket watch, the compass, and the telescope. She held them all close, whispering into the night.