The months apart tested them in ways they hadn't anticipated. Allison threw herself into her work, and he supported her from afar, their calls and messages becoming her lifeline on long, exhausting days. They sent each other letters and pictures, sharing pieces of their separate worlds in an effort to keep the distance from feeling overwhelming.
But there were hard days too, days when the loneliness became too much, when the absence felt like a dull ache that lingered no matter how much they tried to bridge the gap. They both felt the strain, the difficulty of being apart when they wanted to be together.
One evening, after a particularly difficult day, Allison found herself questioning everything. She missed him so deeply that it hurt, and she wondered if their love could withstand the strain of time and distance. She thought of calling him to voice her fears, but a text from him arrived before she could even dial his number: "No matter how far, you're always with me. Remember that."
His words settled in her heart, a balm to her worries, and she felt herself breathe a little easier. She realized that love didn't always mean being side by side—it was about holding on, even when you couldn't see the other person. It was a lesson they were both learning, and it only strengthened the bond between them.