[Royal Wulff]

Ya I understand that, but 11 billion years ago, the Universe was much MUCH closer together, so wouldn't that light have reached this part of the universe earlier?

Space itself has expanded over the last 11 billion years. The light has to travel "upstream" against the expansion of space.

[bikepacker67]

The light has to travel "upstream" against the expansion of space.

Well yes and no... the "light stream" is faster than the "expansion stream" which is what confounds me when I read these stories.