Long Distance Love Affair

An unusually warm fall evening in Montreal; her plane touched down, and the anxiousness began to grow inside her. "How will we feel when we see each other?" "Will it be awkward? Will it be love at first sight?" All of the questions ran through her mind as she was sitting, waiting to disembark the plane and reunite with a long, lost friend.

He wasn't quite on time to the airport, but in all fairness, her plane had landed half an hour early. None of this mattered when she did see him though; yet the worries didn't stop running through her mind. They met, embraced, he carried her luggage and opened the door for her into his cadillac. Curiosity and confusion rang in the air as anticipation took over them both. "Be Yourself" by Audioslave filled the speakers of the car with the warm evening air dancing off their faces. They caught up on the years past and the sorrows each had shared.

Neither of them knew what to think, how to feel, how to act. It was new to both of them, and a risk - or a chance - they were both willing to take. As familiar tunes played on the drive to his house, the levels of ease and comfort rose with familiar banter and laughter.

A beautiful week had been planned out for her, and she was so excited to have a change of scenery; a breath of fresh air: finally. It had been a very difficult year for her of loss, grief, and sorrow.

Their first evening was spent cozied up in bed. Although they were intimate much sooner than she would have liked - it felt okay. There was enough passion and energy to sustain the connection, and make it more than just sex. They drifted off peacefully together in each others arms; the corners of their mouths raised in smiles.

Colourful bedsheets, warm fall rain, and the sound of droplets on the window welcomed her with enjoyment, excitement, and passion as she woke up on her first morning. He didn't wait to make her feel loved, special and important. The second he noticed her eyes were open - in his cheery, uplifting french accent he sweetly sung "goooooooood morning beeeeeautiful!". It was as though the love, presence and anticipation were bubbling up inside them both. A delicious coffee was delivered to her, music turned on; and they sat in bed sipping and listening. Their hearts singing with joy and curiosity about what their week would bring them.

See, they'd known each other for years prior. They'd partied, traveled, adventured, and visited each other in different cities all over the country. One of them had always been taken though. Banter and playfulness had always been there, yet there had been a limit to how far the relationship could previously be taken. Respect was always warranted, and a playful friendship was all that had occurred thus far.

Now they were free to explore - Quebec, nature, each other, and the depths and desires of their own hearts.

Their week was truly filled with wonder - walking the streets of Montreal, tasting craft beer and fine wine, talking for hours and hours on end, and constantly laughing and reassuring each other. It felt easy, natural, playful. There were no games or trying to be or look a certain way. Both were shocked at how much they had in common, and how similar their values truly were.

As they walked and talked, their curiosity and desire for each other continued to strengthen and deepen. On the second day - they drove to Quebec city - taking the back roads and the scenic routes and taking in all of the magic. It poured rain, but this didn't dampen their conversation. It only sparked more intrigue, and excitement in their hearts and their minds.

"Here Comes The Sun Doo Doo Doo Doo, Here Comes The Sun And I Saaaaay, It's Alright" was playing as they pulled into the old, quaint streets of Quebec City. It felt as though the sun itself was happy and delighted to welcome them in to the charming old town. They parked, got situated in their airbnb; and left on foot to explore all the city had to offer.

Plains of Abraham were about a twenty minute walk away and this is where their adventure first led them. After walking around to some viewpoints, their path led them to the top of a muddy and leaf covered hill. She laughed as she reminisced and said "the first thing we would have done as kids is roll down this!" And he said "Come on, let's do it! What are you waiting for?" She was much more hesitant than he - but he left her no choice as he began rolling down the wet and muddy hill; all the while laughing and encouraging her to join him.

How could she turn down such a silly and playful request? She found herself in hysterics as her clothes got splashed with mud and her heart filled with childlike joy. They were wet, muddy, and cold but none of that mattered because they were having the time of their lives; floating on air; enjoying every moment.

Everyday together seemed to get better than the last. They walked through forests, sat in the sunshine alongside lakes; and talked for hours and hours about their heartbreaks, passions, hopes, and dreams. They got each other. They didn't need to be anyone, other than who they were. They valued the important things in life - fun, adventure, each other, and truly appreciating the little things - realizing that less truly is more.

As quickly as the love affair began, the week slowly came to an end. The hugs and cuddles seemed more drawn out - neither of them wanting to let go, or admit that they would say their goodbyes within 24 hours.

Blanketed up together on their last night, he whispered her words of comfort. That year she had lost her Dad; the year before her Gran and two Uncles; and she was recovering from a pretty devastating heartbreak on top of it all. He told her "darling, don't be so hard on yourself! You've had an awful year. You're allowed to grieve!" She hadn't realized until that moment how much her self-worth depended on her being happy and fun all the time. She thought she had to be happy in order to receive love from others. She hadn't allowed herself to breathe, to feel, to grieve, or to be loved in all of her changing emotions.

Surely, consoling a sobbing mess wasn't how he planned to spend their last night together, but he didn't complain. He held her so gently and tenderly; stroking her hair, holding her close and making her feel loved and safe to feel everything she had been burying.

5am came much too early, and both of the lovebirds were reluctant to get out of bed. They dragged out their morning, to the point of making her very very late for her flight.

Driving to the airport was like a scene out of a movie. A beautiful sunrise slowly peaking, while driving the bridges and the backroads of the city. They hit construction, and numerous red lights. Without fail, each time he stopped, he grabbed her and kissed her; filling her with a bittersweet, soul sadness. The light turned green and as she tried to convey this to him he said "I don't fucking care!" lustfully and wistfully in his heavy french accent. He pulled her in and might as well have swept her right off her feet as all time stood still while they kissed and warmed to one another.

Tears began to flow down her face as they neared the airport. "Don't cry my darling, think of what a week we have had! And what times we have yet to share!" he whispered to her as he kindly wiped the tear from her cheek.

As they pulled up at the airport, and he opened her car door, the sun rose from behind the building, shining directly on them.

They didn't know what would happen from here. When they would see each other next, when they would talk, if anything would come of this.

All they knew was the love and the magic that they had shared, and the joy that deeply filled their souls. A joy they had only dreamed possible.