Distance and Love - A short story

"It's not you, it's me."

I remembered those words. Vividly. He was my love. My everything. How could that happen?

The answer is distance.

He cannot cope anymore with the distance between us. Netherlands, where he belongs. New York, where I belong.

"I can go to you. We can work this out!" I tried to mend.

"It's already over. I can't do this anymore." He hung up. And just like that everything's gone.

And from that day, I swear not to love ever again. Never again.

***

5 years later...

A party theme song blasted throughout the summer night air. I stare at the bunch of people who kept dancing, chatting and mingling around. I sighed. This is ridiculous! How did I get stuck in this party? I blamed it on my bestfriend Lexi for dragging me out here on Saturday night which I can spent on reading or writing or watching movies.

"Are you going to break them with your eye-staring curse?" A voice woke me up from my dream of being in my place instead of this place.

I looked up. A guy. Tanned and tall. Piercing blue eyes. Electric smile.

That moment, I can see a big NO sign. This is dangerous. He is dangerous.

"Where are you from?" I replied his question with a question. A habit. A trauma-based question.

He frowned. Instead of answering, he offered me his right hand. I asked him with a questioning look. He rolled his eyes.

"Questions while dancing?"

I shrugged and take his offer rather than being bored alone. DJ's Got Us Falling in Love Again blasted.

"Adam." He smiled.

"Sarah." I started to move with the music.

"Programmer." He put his hand up and move.

"Pharmacist." He made a 'what' face which made me laugh.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, dragged by a friend who loves parties as much as she loves makeup?" He chuckled.

"I dated a lot but always fail. Don't ask me why. I love an independent woman. Clingy at times but can live by herself too." Was he trying to pry out my relationship status?

"Hmm, I hate long distance relationship."

"Why?"

"He left me. Because of the distance. Guess he found someone around his home." I shrugged with a hurtful smile.

He held my hand and pulled me closer as the song changed to I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing - Aerosmith.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I tried to resist.

"Just adapting to the song. Please don't drug me to death miss." He said with pleaded but mischievous eyes. And swing me with him slowly. I tried to synchronize our moves eventually.

And then we laughed together. "You're impossible." I laughed. "I am." He said.

I think we fell in love that night. Maybe or maybe not...

***

What is he doing here??? My heart screamed at Adam who is casually sitting on my sofa in my living room right now. That night-a month ago was wonderfully spent but I just need him that night. Not today or the day after this. Not anymore.

"What are you doing here?" Finally I came out with those words.

"I owe you an answer." Adam sipped on his hot chocolate made by me.

I just stared blatantly at him. I cannot understand what is he trying to say.

"I stay in Germany. Working there. Everything is there. Basically home." Suddenly he said that while watching away through my window which has a perfect view of buildings throughout NYC.

"Then, what are you doing here? A month after?"

"For you."

3892 miles. DANGER alert. Deep inside I know both of us can feel the sparks. But we are too far away from each other. I cannot risk my heart once again.

"Give me one year. You don't even have to love me. Save your heart. If someday, you feel like you can't do it anymore, I'll go." He said.

I am beyond stunned hearing those words.

"Alright. Let's try. But I don't promise you anything." I gave in.

"I'll heal you, Sarah." Adam pulled me close to him and hug me tight as if trying to connect all of my broken pieces together again.

***

3 years later...

"I do." Adam  grinned.

"I do." I grinned the same grin as his.

"...man and wife." I can only heard that.

"God, I love you." I said that for the very first time after he is officially my husband.

"Well, God knows how much I love you more wifey." We laughed before we sealed the vow with a passionate kiss.

***

"Thank you for not giving up on me." I hugged Adam from behind. He is looking through the same window that he looked upon 3 years ago.

He got a job in NYC. A man who is willing to go for anything to be with me. A man who fly Germany-New York-Germany once a month for me. A man who left a country he called 'home' for me.

He turned around and look at me with loving eyes of his. I think I fell in in love because of those too. I grinned.

"Why?" He asked.

"How is it that you're willing to leave home-Germany, to live with me?" I looked at him with innocent eyes.

He laughed. "How could you be so ignorant?" I frowned at his words.

"You're my home now." My vision became blurred with tears. I hooked my hand around his neck and hugged him.

"Did I tell you that I love you so much?" I said.

"Did I tell you that I love you more?" Adam said.

And we laughed and love.

Now, more than ever, the world needs more faith. More loyalty. More laugh. And definitely, more love...