Shattered Boundaries!!

I felt like a horrible person the entire time we were having dinner. I could not even digest the food well because of everything that was on my mind. It was hard for me to break the news off to him out of the blue because I didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere and also felt like I was going to hurt him which I do not want to do. He has been nothing but amazing and loving with me and I just could not afford to end up hurting someone like him. But I had to tell him. I have to tell him. It would be really unfair of me to just disappear without letting him know why. This was a huge decision about my life, our life and I can’t be the only one to make that decision. I was going to have to tell him sooner or later and after thinking about it all week, I came to the conclusion that the earlier I tell him, the better it is for everyone. So I just needed to find the courage and say it in the most understanding way possible. I raised my wine glasses to my lips and then took a sip before preparing myself for the reveal. “Babe,” I called out in a soft tone. “Yeah.” Jackson, my boyfriend, responded as he continued to slice the steak on his plate. “I need to tell you something, babe,” I spoke in the same soft tone again, unsure about how I should inform him. “Go on. I’m listening.” He replied in a flat tone, his attention still focused on the steak he was cutting into smaller pieces. I took a short pause as I stared at him, wondering if this was going to be the last time I would be seeing and spending quality time with him. But I couldn’t stall anymore. I have to tell him now. Even if that means our relationship meets its end, I still have to. I inhaled and exhaled deeply before blurting out my words. “I’m moving to Los Angeles, Jack.” His hands froze the second I finished speaking and he stopped cutting the chunk of meat and then dropped the utensils beside the plate slowly before raising his head to look at me, his expression asking a lot of questions. “What are you talking about (character name)?” He asked in a calm tone. “What do you mean by that? Why are you leaving New Jersey?” “My mom and I are both moving to LA.” I started to explain. “She’s been seeing this guy for about a year now and they’re really serious with their relationship so they’re ready to take their relationship to the next stage.” “Are you moving to LA because of your mom's relationship or is there some other reason?” He questioned authoritatively. “I hmm…..” I took a short pause and cleared my throat slightly as I gulped from my glass of water before continuing to speak. “I never told you about this, but about three months ago I sent my application to several universities and I just got an email from them one of them in Los Angeles. They accepted me as a professor. “Wow!” Jackson's eyes widened in surprise and confusion, disappointment etched on his face. “Why didn't you tell me about this before?" "I wanted to wait until I knew for sure if I got in," I replied, feeling a pang of guilt for keeping it a secret. "I didn't want to get your hopes up or make any plans until I had a definite answer." “You took such a huge step in your life and didn’t bother to let me know about it, Marlene. Really? When did we start keeping things from each other?” “I never intended to Jack.” I defended. “When do you leave?” He questioned flatly. “This weekend,” I answered. “That early?” He uttered. “You’re leaving in three days? “My mom doesn’t wanna be here any longer and I can’t let her leave here on her own. And besides, I have just a week left before I start working and I have to get familiar with the city. Know my way around and kinds of stuff.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, clearly processing the information. "So, what does this mean for us, Marlene?” I could see the hurt and worry in his eyes, and it broke my heart. "I don't know, Jack. It's a huge opportunity for me, and I've always dreamed of teaching at a university. But I understand if it's too much for you to handle. I don't want to hold you back or make you sacrifice anything." He looked down at his plate, deep in thought then after a few seconds, he looked back up at me, his eyes filled with sadness. "I love you, Marlene, and I want you to be happy. If this is what you truly want, then I'll support you. But it's going to be hard for both of us. It’s gonna be really for me Marlene.” Tears welled up in my eyes as I reached across the table to hold his hand. "I love you too, Jack, and I appreciate your understanding. This decision is tearing me apart, but I can't ignore this opportunity. We can try long-distance if you're willing to give it a shot. I know it's hard to try and there are a lot of stories about long-distance relationships never ending well, but we can find a way to make it work, even if we're physically apart. I know we can. We can stay connected through calls, messages, and video chats. Our bond is strong, and distance won't change that my love.” “But it won't be the same, Marlene. I want to be with you, not just through a screen." He protested. “I feel the same way too babe. Being physically together is important to me too. I don’t know…. Maybe we can plan visits, and make the most of the time we have when we're together. And who knows, maybe in the future, we can find a way to be in the same place again. It won’t always be this way.” He shook his head slightly as he heaved a deep sigh, got up from the chair then walked towards the window and stared out of it. “I don't know, it just feels so uncertain. I'm scared of losing what we have.” I got up after him and then went up to meet him as I wrapped my arm around him from behind. “I understand your fears, Jack. I know change is scary, but it also brings new opportunities. We can grow individually and as a couple. Let's have faith in our love and trust that we'll find a way to make it work, no matter the distance." He sighed then turned around in my arms as he held my hands in his. "I don't want to let fear hold us back. I love you so much Marlene and I don’t wanna lose you.” “I don’t wanna lose you either. And you’re not gonna lose me. I love you too, Jack, and we’ll navigate this journey together, supporting and understanding each other every step of the way. Our love is strong, and distance can't diminish that. Let's cherish the moments we have and look forward to a future where we can be together again." I said in a voice soft with affection. He squeezed my hand gently and nodded. "We can try. It won't be easy, but if we're both committed, maybe we can make it work." Relief washed over me as I realized he wasn't angry or resentful. We still had a chance, even if it meant being apart for a while. We finished our dinner in a bittersweet silence, knowing that our lives were about to change drastically. As we walked out of his apartment hand in hand, I couldn't help but feel grateful for his understanding and support. We had a tough road ahead of us, but with love and communication, maybe we could overcome the distance and make our relationship even stronger.