Going after Love

part 25:more distance

Summer passed in a blur of warmth, long days, and the steady rhythm of Zack and Diana’s growing relationship. They spent as much time together as they could, savoring the moments when the distance wasn’t a factor. Each day felt like a gift, a reminder of the work they’d put in to stay connected. But as the weeks moved on, Diana’s college decision loomed closer. The reality of her going out of state was becoming more tangible.

It was a late August evening when the weight of that decision finally fell on them both. They were sitting on a bench in the park, the sun setting behind the trees, casting golden light across the lake. Diana hadn’t officially told Zack which college she’d chosen yet, but she knew she had to. They couldn’t keep ignoring the elephant in the room.

She took a deep breath and turned to face him. “Zack, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.”

Zack, sensing the shift in her tone, straightened up, his expression curious but calm. “What’s up?”

Diana’s heart thudded in her chest. She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous—Zack had been nothing but supportive of her decisions so far. But this was different. This wasn’t just about applications or plans for the future; this was the real thing. Her decision, their future.

“I got into the program I wanted,” she started, her voice steady. “At the university out of state.”

Zack’s eyes brightened for a second, a smile spreading across his face. “Di, that’s amazing. I knew you’d get in.”

Diana smiled, but her chest felt tight. “Thanks. I’m excited about it. It’s a really good program, and I think it’ll be a great opportunity for me.” She paused, searching his face for any hint of hesitation, but Zack was still smiling, genuinely proud of her.

But then her smile faltered. “It’s far, Zack. Really far. And I’ve been thinking about what that means for us.”

Zack’s smile dimmed slightly as reality set in. He shifted on the bench, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been thinking about it too.”

Diana bit her lip. “It’s going to be harder than this year. The distance… it’s a lot more than just a few hours away.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sounds of the park—children playing, leaves rustling in the breeze, the soft splash of the lake—seemed to fill the silence between them.

Finally, Zack reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. “We’ll make it work, Di. It’s going to be tough, but we’ve made it through this year. We can handle this, too.”

Diana’s eyes softened, though the uncertainty still lingered. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel like you’re being held back, or like you have to wait around for me.”

Zack shook his head. “I’m not waiting around. I’m choosing this. I’m choosing you. Distance doesn’t change how I feel about you, Diana. We’ll figure it out. We’ve already proven that we can handle hard things. What’s a little more distance?”

Diana felt a wave of relief wash over her, but also a hint of doubt. It was easy to say now, in the warmth of the summer, when everything still felt close and familiar. But she knew that once she was at school, hundreds of miles away, things could change. She didn’t want to admit it, but there was a part of her that was scared—scared that they wouldn’t be able to make it, scared that the distance would pull them apart.

But then she looked at Zack, at the way he was looking at her with that steady, unwavering belief in them, and the fear eased, just a little.

“I’m scared,” she admitted softly, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m scared of losing you.”

Zack’s grip on her hand tightened, and he leaned closer, his eyes locking onto hers. “I’m scared too,” he confessed. “But that doesn’t mean we stop trying. We’re not giving up on this. Not unless you tell me you want to.”

Diana blinked back the tears that had started to form. She didn’t want to give up. She wanted to fight for them, for everything they’d built together. And Zack, with his quiet strength and endless patience, had been fighting for them from the very beginning.

“I don’t want to give up,” she whispered.

“Then we won’t,” Zack said firmly. “We’ll make this work, Diana. One day at a time, just like we always have.”

Diana exhaled, feeling the weight lift from her shoulders. She wasn’t sure what the future held for them, but Zack’s confidence in their relationship gave her hope. They had faced so many obstacles already, and they had come out stronger each time. She couldn’t let fear dictate her decisions now.

The sun was almost gone, the sky a dusky purple, and the air around them felt cooler. Zack pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, and Diana rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. In that moment, with the world quiet around them and Zack by her side, the fear didn’t feel as overwhelming.

“We’ll be okay,” Zack murmured, as if reading her thoughts. “I promise.”

Diana closed her eyes, letting the words sink in. They were heading into uncharted territory, but they would face it together. And for the first time in a long time, that was enough.

As the summer days dwindled, the time for Diana’s departure approached faster than either of them wanted. They spent as much time together as possible—making memories, talking late into the night, and holding on to the present before everything changed.

The night before Diana was set to leave, Zack took her to a quiet hill just outside of town where they could see the stars. They spread out a blanket and lay next to each other, staring up at the vast, twinkling sky.

“This is one of my favorite spots,” Zack said quietly, breaking the comfortable silence. “I’ve come here a lot to think.”

Diana smiled softly. “I can see why. It’s peaceful.”

They lay in silence for a while, their hands intertwined, both of them lost in their thoughts. Zack turned his head slightly to look at her. “Di, I know things are going to be hard once you leave, but I want you to know I’m here for the long haul. You mean too much to me.”

Diana’s throat tightened with emotion, but she smiled, blinking back the tears. “I know. I feel the same way.”

They spent the rest of the night talking about everything and nothing, laughing, reminiscing, and making promises about their future. And as the stars twinkled above them, Diana felt a deep sense of gratitude. No matter what the next chapter held, she knew Zack would be a part of her life in one way or another.

The next day, when it came time for Diana to leave for school, Zack was there, standing by her car, his hands shoved into his pockets, trying to look casual but failing to hide the emotion in his eyes.

“I’ll see you soon,” he said, pulling her into a tight embrace. “This isn’t goodbye.”

Diana hugged him back, holding on for a moment longer than usual, not wanting to let go. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too,” Zack whispered, kissing the top of her head. “But we’ve got this.”

With one last look, Diana climbed into her car, giving him a small wave as she drove away. Her heart ached, but as she turned onto the highway, heading toward her new life, she felt a quiet sense of certainty.

No matter the distance, no matter the challenges, she and Zack had built something real. And that was something worth fighting for.