Henry sat on his bed, crying softly as he thought of his family back home. His baby brother that he hadn't seen in a while, and his parents who phoned every day. It wasn't the same though.

Henry wanted to see their faces, to hug them close, not just talk to them through a device. He missed his brother's smile, his eyes that shone whenever his older brother was there. Henry wanted to hug him, to play silly games with him and hold him close.

 

Sighing a little, he wept into his pillow and reread the small letter.

'Henry, I love you. Please smile.' The six words were written messily on the page, in his brother's best handwriting. Treasuring the small note, Henry touched the picture at the bottom. 

 

It was a tall person and a small person holding hands, with smiles that were too big for their faces. Henry the smaller figure, and hugged the piece of paper to his chest.

 

He heard a small noise, and then a hand touched his shoulder in the darkness.

"Henry, are you crying?"

"N-no.." The younger boy whispered, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Don't lie..." 

Henry smiled as Zhoumi slid into bed with him, and hugged him close. He felt gentle fingers brushing away his tears, and a soft hand caress his cheek.

Mi gave him a minute to relax, before he started to question him.

 

"What happened Henry? Are you hurt?"

The younger boy shook his head and showed the taller boy the letter that his brother had written him. As the boy read the words and saw the picture, he smiled brightly.

"That's so sweet, Henry."

He pulled Henry onto his chest, and felt the boy nuzzle into him.

"You miss your family, don't you?"

At the small nod, he cuddled him tighter. "Why don't you phone them?"

"I-It's not the same.. I want to see him...."

 

Zhoumi reached behind him for his phone, and held it out to the boy. "Why don't you video call them?"

Dialling the number, he watched as Henry spoke to his family, and saw his younger brother.

"Who's your friend Henry?"

"This is Zhoumi. Say hello."

Zhoumi waved back to the excited boy, and blew him a kiss.

When the call was over, Henry looked sad, but a little relieved.

 

"It's good to see them again.. Thank you Zhoumi.. I had no credit.."

The taller boy just gave him a warm hug. "It's okay, you can always borrow my phone."

As they went to sleep, Henry looked once more at the picture and reread the words. 

Feeling Zhoumi's arms around him, and the comforting friendship that the boy offered, he felt as though he could obey his brother's request. 

He fell asleep with a bright smile on his face.