Liam Payne shouted out Zayn Malik’s birthday, and 1D fans do not know what to do

After many months of events that definitely make it seem like One Direction is gone forever, fans of the band received arguably their first piece of feel-good news in a while when Liam Payne wished Zayn Malik a happy birthday on Thursday.

Yeah, we know. We’re grasping at straws. But that’s what fandoms do.

On Twitter, Liam wrote his now 24-year-old ex-bandmate a sweet shout-out, saying “Happy birthday bro! Hope all is well and you have a good day celebrating it” with a whole bunch of emojis (because millennials).

@zaynmalik Happy birthday bro! Hope all is well and you have a good day celebrating it 🎉🍾🙌

— Liam (@LiamPayne) January 12, 2017

Zayn hasn’t exactly written back, but still — we’re sure Liam is who he was thinking of when he posted this candy-centric fan art.

Getting all old and shit ! Thank you for your love and thoughts today x pic.twitter.com/5EBG4s4aMM

— zayn (@zaynmalik) January 12, 2017

So of course, fans are taking comfort in the fact that Liam, despite being busy preparing for fatherhood, took the time to reach out to his old bandmate.

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Liam tweeting Zayn for his birthday just made this year 100%

— Puneet (@Punnett_Square) January 12, 2017

https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/819636636308807680

While others are laughing at the fact that Liam got to it before Zayn’s girlfriend, Gigi Hadid.

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(Though Liam lives in London and Gigi in Los Angeles, so if they’re both home, this might not exactly be fair.)

Some fans were thrilled to notice that Liam “liked” Zayn’s birthday Tweet.

Liam not only tweeted Zayn, he even liked Zayn's tweet!😭😍 pic.twitter.com/Y0Rzzwqcef

— Sel (@LZSHIP) January 12, 2017

While others, well, focused on the negative — that Zayn has not yet replied.

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We get it, tbqh.

But since we need some positivity in our lives, we’re choosing to believe that the #Ziam friendship is alive and well.

https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/819652379972923392

ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM ZIAM pic.twitter.com/lUT4974XAp

— moonphye🌻 (@Idolsmyangels23) January 12, 2017

At the end of the day One Direction is still on hiatus, with Harry Styles soon to appear in Dunkirk, Liam and Louis Tomlinson embracing fatherhood, and literally all five boys working on their solo careers. So while it’s a pretty tough time to be a Directioner, major events like the Liam-Zayn birthday message of 2017 are a great reminder of what once was … and what could be again in the future, we think. We hope.