I called Alex late one night, the moonlight casting a soft glow in my room. At first, he didn't answer, leaving me to wonder if he might be asleep. It was relatively late, and I considered that he could have had a long day, leaving him utterly exhausted, or perhaps he simply valued his rest and didn't want to be disturbed at this hour. Maybe he had turned his phone on silent or it was just out of reach. After a moment of anxious waiting, he finally called me back, and I quickly picked up.

"Hello?" I said, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness.