The terminal felt colder than it should have. Maybe it was the way her footsteps echoed against the polished floor, maybe it was the way her heart was pounding so loudly that every sound around her seemed distant. {{user}} had been through airports before but never like this. Never with Drew Starkey waiting just beyond security, hands stuffed into his pockets, his cap pulled low like he was trying to hide from the world. But she saw him. She always saw him.

He smiled the second his eyes landed on her. That soft crooked smile that made her forget where she was. He walked closer and whispered, “You almost had me thinking you weren’t going to show.” His voice cracked just enough to tell her he had been nervous.

“I would never miss this,” {{user}} replied, clutching the strap of her bag like it might stop her hands from shaking.

They stood in silence for a moment, surrounded by strangers rushing past them, people hugging, crying, boarding flights. The whole world was moving and yet it felt like they were frozen.

Drew reached out, brushing his thumb over her cheek. “Long distance isn’t fair,” he said quietly. “I hate that you’re leaving.”

Her chest tightened. “I hate it too. But this isn’t forever. We’ll make it work.”

He laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. “You’re too good at pretending it doesn’t hurt.”

Tears filled her eyes before she could stop them. “You think this is easy for me? You think walking away from you doesn’t feel like ripping myself apart?”

He pulled her closer, holding her like she was the only steady thing in the world. “I just don’t want to let go. Every time you’re here, every second, it feels like it’s never enough.”

She buried her face against his chest. His heartbeat thudded against her ear and she wanted to stay right there. Forever. But the announcement echoed overhead, calling her flight. She flinched.

“That’s me,” she whispered.

Drew lifted her chin so she had to look at him. His blue eyes glistened. “I don’t want this to be the last thing I say but… I love you.”

The words crashed into her like a wave. She blinked up at him, stunned, her lips trembling. “You’ve never said that before.”

“I know.” His voice was raw. “I should have said it a hundred times already. I love you, {{user}}. I don’t care how far apart we are. I’ll wait for you. I’ll fly to you. Whatever it takes.”

Her breath caught and she kissed him before she could even think. The terminal disappeared. The world disappeared. All that mattered was his mouth on hers, desperate and aching, like he was trying to memorize the shape of her lips before she walked away.

When they finally pulled apart, she whispered back, “I love you too.”

He pressed his forehead against hers. “Say it again.”

“I love you.”

Another announcement came, urgent this time. She had to go. She pulled away, each step heavier than the last, her body screaming to turn back. She glanced over her shoulder one last time. Drew was still standing there, his eyes locked on her, as if letting her walk away was the hardest thing he had ever done.

And maybe it was.

Because long distance was cruel. It stretched the heart, tested every promise, and made goodbyes taste like poison. But Drew Starkey kissing her at the terminal that night made it worse. Because now she knew exactly what she was leaving behind.

And she had never loved him more.

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