The college years. Our love tested again. The plan was me in SC, him in GA. Exploring life in new places with new people, while staying true to each other.
Phone calls, chats, emails, and visits.
Hope soon turned into despair.
20 years old. He held me. He encouraged me. He gave me a voice. A long year of despair and transition. With him. He stayed.
Different schools. Same city. New friends, old friends. His friends, my friends. Lives intertwined yet separate.
Fraternity and sorority mixers, parties, semi-formals, and formals. Football games, school traditions. Study times, dinners, concerts. Nights out, nights in. The college years.
Him in year 4, me in year 2. Not so fast. I catch up. 5 years for him, 3 years for me.
Another time apart. Him in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Me curled up in a ball missing him and making up stories. “He found a new love. I’m left with a puppy and a necklace.”No. He thinks of me. He calls when he can. I stay busy with my friends, his friends, and that puppy. I wear that necklace to remind me of his love. 12 weeks then he returns. Back together.
Job seeking for him. What’s next for me? Where will he work? Long distance again? Do I follow? No. We both stay. Together. In our hometown. Where we met.
Finally, stepping into our futures together.