What gives you motivation to roll out of bed? To not call out from work and just throw the covers back over. The sunrise is so gorgeous on a Sunday but extremely appalling Monday through Friday. What keeps you playing a game when you’re already in end game? Every incremental upgrade is such a chore in your min-max journey. What keeps you wanting to be in a relationship with someone that you can’t see and despite being together for seven years, have yet to meet? Does that person exist? Is your love real?

I’ve written poems and have touched on the topic of long distance relationships. In fact, one of my favorite movies is The Lake House (the American remake Il Mare, which reminds me I need to watch) and time is simply the biggest obstacle one can have. It’s either have too little time to enjoy, or too much time to wait, never living in the now. Can’t take back and relive the times things were great nor redo those times that were a mistake. Can’t peek into the future to see if this was all worth it.

I caught up with an old friend and spoke to her about her current relationship. Despite telling me a hundred reasons why she should end this relationship as it was not good for her mental health, she clings on. Hoping there’s something that still lingers. Something that will rejuvenate the passion they once had. Yet despite putting in the years, they have yet to meet. And due to circumstances, them meeting is not something that can happen anytime soon.

People say long distance relationships aren’t real. It’s a phase we all go through because we are disappointed with what we have available around us that we look further beyond the scope of reason. While yeah, you can fly easily anywhere and at anytime, we’d easily burn through our resources. It’s simply not easy and feasible sometimes, especially when it’s a one way street. And eventually, you’ll find that diamond in the rough at the local tavern, at the park, the bookstore and think finally, they’re the one I was waiting for.

But then there are those that still believe in these types of relationships. We’re still chasing that carrot on the stick. Even if we’re stagnant and it doesn’t look like it’s coming any closer to us. Because we’re fueled with belief that this is special and we can’t risk losing it. Because this is the last straw. We’re tired of being let down, of being told we’re not good enough. Not being appreciated. Why let distance dictate who we get to be with? We’ll work harder, get that promotion, set the foundation so that one day, we can take that plunge, that leap of faith into the next step. Even if the next step is gigantic and way too tall for our feeble legs to cross over, we’ll just bide our time.

Seeing is believing right? It just takes one look a few meters away, one slight touch to believe. To hear one word, just one word. Be it Hi. Let it be Sup? Or even Yo. Not through headphones. Not through speakers, even if it’s surround sound. But through the vibrations in the same air we’re breathing in, taking in the moment, trying to not hyperventilate that finally. For the love of God, finally.

This is real.