a different kind of social distance
Last March, I started a correspondence with someone. In May, I flew out to the east coast to meet him, & we both decided that we had feelings for one another. It has been a long-distance relationship ever since.
Our story is rather complicated, but the short version is: DD (boyfriend) currently going through a messy divorce, & I'm married to DJ (husband) who has terminal cancer & has been supportive of this whole thing. Because my relationship with DD has been purely email, call & text-related, & not at all physical, we've been able to build a foundation that is strong.
The big downside: there have been countless attempts to meet up with DD ever since May, & each & every time, it has failed spectacularly. Some of the blame is due to his job, which takes him away for 6-10 weeks at a time. But most of the blame has been due to his fears of actually being able to have happiness with me. We've cried, talked, & distanced ourselves from one another during these hard times ... but it's clear that we cannot function without the other, even in a friendly manner.
But now, things have changed. Since this virus hit, & having the relief of knowing he's back from Europe & safe in his home, he has been under mandatory self-quarantine (he's not infected, thank heavens). Yesterday he called me crying & said that somehow, his fears of being happy with me have completely disappeared. I can't explain it, but for the first time since this all started, I believe him. I felt it with him & we cried together for the better part of an hour over the phone. I guess when you're completely isolated like he's been, priorities shift & things that once seemed important become fodder compared to what really matters: love.
He's made up his mind to come out to where I am in the Rockies after his quarantine is up (on the 30th). He's finally ready. And what's even more striking is, it'll be on the exact 1-year anniversary of when our correspondence began. It's been dramatic for so long ... but now happiness can really start. Finally.