Gone, Baby, Gone

And just like that, he’s gone.  The past eight weeks flew by.  One minute, we were having the time of our lives exploring the northeastern Australian coastline.  The next, he’s boarding a plane.  I knew our time together had to come to an end.  I knew he had to go back home at some point.  I just didn’t think it would happen so quickly.  Our holidays are over and it’s time for him to get back to work, to concentrate on building his business.  It’s time for me to focus on work again, too.  After all, that’s what responsible people do.  It’s just that, unlike the majority of couples, our respective responsibilities take us to opposite ends of the world.  Why does something I’ve dreamt of for years and worked so hard to achieve mean that we have to be apart?  It doesn’t seem fair.  I don’t regret my decision to stay, not completely.  I’m proud of my accomplishments and enjoy my work.  I just wish we could be together.  I wish he could stay.  I guess it’s the age-old predicament of wanting it all.  I’m not a fool; I know that isn’t possible.  So, for now, the best we can do is compromise.  For now, we’re left to make our own rules and navigate uncharted relationship territory.  For now, we have to rely upon phone calls and scheduled visits.  It won’t be easy, but it won’t be forever, either.  And when this is all over, when we’re living in the same house once again, we can look back on this adventure and laugh.