Bound by Distance

For a long time, I didn't give January much thought. It was a season for fresh starts, new plans, and established habits. However, things seem different this year. This is truly unique. Anxieties and anticipation fill me up every time I check the calendar. Now January is more than just another page; it is the month I have been eagerly anticipating, the month when we will finally meet. The fact that the day is drawing near can feel surreal at times. It has been on our minds, in planning, for months. Everything is starting to feel more real now that we're only a few weeks away. The instant we meet, the first smile, and the subsequent stillness because words fail me are all vividly shown in my imagination. This is a situation that I have replayed in my head countless times. More and more, we've been discussing what we want to do that day. The little things, like planning our itinerary and anticipating our first face-to-face meeting. My heart skips a beat for every tiny detail....

Sometimes I still cannot believe how much has changed since that first message on  November 30, 2024 . What started as a simple chat on Interpals has now become something meaningful, something that fills my days with warmth and purpose. I never expected to meet someone so special through a screen, but now I cannot imagine my life without him in it. Every moment, every message, every shared laugh has brought us closer, even when distance tries to keep us apart. It has not been easy. There were nights when I missed him so much that I could not sleep, and mornings when I wished he was beside me instead of behind a phone screen. There were times when the distance felt too big, when doubts tried to creep into my mind. But every time I felt weak, his words reminded me to stay strong. “We’ll meet soon,” he always said, and those three words became my comfort. They gave me hope when the days felt long and the miles felt endless. We have learned so much about love during this journey. We le...

Love may be found in the tiniest things, as I have discovered through my long-distance relationship. Despite the fact that we have never really met, we have found creative ways to pass the time. We refer to them as our online dates. Despite their unconventional appearance, I still consider them dates. We have created recollections that soften the distance through screens. Asking, "Would you like to watch something tonight?" or suggesting, "Let's have dinner together online" are common ways that our virtual dates begin. Despite how silly it seems, it has quickly become a favorite pastime of mine. We make the meal together, then settle down at our computers or phones to chat about our day. We pretend to share meals by ordering the same thing every time. He made a joke about having noodles with me once and said, "See? Despite our disparate time zones, we will be sharing a meal together. For a split second, I thought he was there by my side as I laughed. Watchi...

On some days, you just feel like floating on air. The distance practically vanishes as our chats flow effortlessly, the calls are filled with laughing. However, there are instances when the weight of quiet surpasses even the physical distance between us. There are days when I sit here and worry that something is amiss while I wait for a communication that seems to be taking longer than normal to come. That is the nature of long-distance love. Life is full of ups and downs, and finding that sweet spot between the two can be challenging at times. That he lives a life apart from mine happens to me from time to time. Separate realities, distinct schedules, and time zones. On occasion, I feel the need to speak, but he is sound sleeping. Sometimes he tries to tell me something, but I'm too preoccupied with my studies or my job to listen. Distance, in those instances, is not merely a spatial concept. Proper timing is also crucial. However, our hearts always find a way to remain connected,...

As far back as I can remember, January has always been no different from any other month. Nowadays, though, I sense a change. This is truly unique. Every time I consider the promise it holds, my heart races. After weeks of communicating by phone, text, and screen, we will finally meet in person in January. From the moment he said, "I want to see you in person," I had eagerly anticipated this month. Since then, I have felt a subtle thrill building within me daily. Thinking about the potential of seeing him standing before me makes me smile unexpectedly sometimes. I picture his smiling face, the sound of his voice when we're not on the phone, and the sensation of finally being in the same room after all this time apart. As if I were in the middle of a dream, the sensation of unreality persists. "January will come soon," he says without fail. Personally, I've found some solace in those remarks. I keep that vow in mind if I am feeling particularly lonely or when...

After the first word on November 30, little by little things began to change. It started out as a few friendly chats on Interpals, but over time it turned into something I looked forward to every day. I felt empty every night if I didn't talk to him. It became my favorite part of the day to talk to you, even when I was tired or busy. He was always able to make me laugh through the screen. Late at night, when everything was quiet, we often talked. I liked those hours because they made me feel like the world had stopped and it was just the two of us. Our texts would sometimes turn into voice calls, and I would smile while lying in bed and listening to his voice. I felt calm when I heard him laugh and heard his soft voice and heard him say my name. We were far away, but those late-night times made me feel close to him. We talked about easy things at first. He asked about my day, what I liked to do for fun, and what made me happy. What was his favorite food? Where did he live? What did...