My boyfriend’s coming home in a week. One. Week. He’s been gone since February, studying abroad in exotic New Zealand while I toil away here with my job, my friends and my occasional hobbies.
OK, it’s not that bad, but 5 months ago, I thought it would be. When he told me that he’d be away for five months, I had a moment of panic as I considered what I would do without him. We’d been living together for 6 months prior to his temporary relocation, sharing pet care responsibilities, chores, friends, hiking, camping. How could he leave? Who would I hang out with? What was I going to do to make it 5 loooong months?
As it turns out, plenty. Girls’ Night Out has made a comeback, scary movie night is in full swing (they’re my favorite, but the bf won’t watch scary movies with me, so I’d fallen behind on my list), the second job I picked up in January has yielded additional cash and the chance to hang out with two adorable kids, and I get to read in bed at night without someone complaining that “it’s too late to have the light on.”
I’d forgotten just how freeing single life could be. Oh, I still love him, and I can’t wait for him to get home, but being without him for so long was a welcome wake-up call to remembering who I was as an individual instead of as one half of a couple. When that plane touches down at 6:27pm on June 3, I will be the first person to welcome him back to the US. But I will not forget what I learned about myself while he was away.
Wow! Such insight. I’m so proud of you.
Always know who you are. Being “half a couple” is great, but you always need to keep in touch with yourself. Some don’t, and when unexpected things happen, you must rely only on yourself. Hope you never have to experience that, but it’s a hard cold fact.
Love you and I’m proud of you! And I love that bf!