When people find out that I’m in a long-distance relationship, most ask why I would ever do that.
They ask if it’s hard, or if I miss him, but the most annoying question is if I trust him. Of course I answer yes to all of these.
Yes, it’s hard being away from the guy who makes me happiest. Yes, I miss him every second of every minute of every hour of every day. Most importantly, though, yes, I do trust him.
Trust is important in every relationship, whether you live with your significant other, hundreds of miles apart or just down the street from one another. If I didn’t trust him, I wouldn’t be with him.
I have to trust he’ll be on his best behavior when he goes out. I have to trust he won’t forget about his sweet, loving girlfriend even if he doesn’t see her for months at a time. I have to trust he will love me through all the obstacles we will face as a couple, and I have to trust that he trusts me to do the same.
When asked how we make it work being so far apart, the answer is simple. We live in a time where modern technology is booming. My boyfriend may be 200 miles away, but he’s also only a Skype call, text or phone call away.
Seeing his face every night before I go to bed is bittersweet. It’s nice that I get to see him in any medium, but when I want that hug before bed and all I can hug is a laptop, it feels a little weird.
The little things are what make the distance worth it. When I do get to see him, he always wears his old baseball hoodie he gave me so when I go back to school, it smells like him. I also made him origami balloons with notes on the inside so if he is feeling sad, all he has to do is open a ballon to find an “I love you” note.
When people want to poke fun or question why I bother with a long-distance relationship at a young age, I tell them that love, trust and strength has made the best relationship I could have asked for. No, I don’t get to see him as often as I would like, but I would rather see him once every few weeks than waste my time on someone who lives near me.
Plus, our limited time together is much more special than if we were to see each other every day.
Brittany McClintock can be reached at opinioneditor!theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter.
