Somewhere between February and April of 2015, I was acquainted with a boy from England. I had put out an art prompt on Tumblr for requests, and a friend of his recommended me to him. He liked my work, and we got to chatting about a fandom we both enjoyed. As it turned out, we both had original characters for that universe, so we set up an RP (role play) thread for them over the website. Small talk was had in-between exchanges, until the boy who recommended me proposed that the three of us, and another friend of theirs that I drew for, come together in a Skype group. And in August of that same year, about a month and a half after a bad breakup, we started dating.
(Drawn 2015)
When I tell people that I met my current boyfriend online through social media, there's a mixed response. Most people around my age are happy for me and don't bat an eye. But the higher on the age scale I went, responses changed more and more from happiness to surprise, to confusion, and even discouragement. This wasn't a plain linear progression of course, as there were still younger people in the outliers who rolled their eyes too.
"You've only met him once. That isn't a real relationship. You met him online. He could be completely different than he says he is."
They couldn't be more wrong.
There are ups and downs to a long distance relationship, just like any other; He's across the ocean, in other country, six hours ahead of me. We miss out on all the physical aspects a relationship would normally have--hugs, kisses, just feeling the other person there. And sometimes, it can feel like he isn't there at all. We have our fair share of fights and arguments, and being in two different countries can make finding a solution difficult and spread out.
(Drawn 2016)
But in spite of this, we're still able to show each other how much we love each other. In little messages and *kisses* over Skype. Posts tagged with each other's names and the comment "this is you" or "this is us." It's in small gifts, handmade/purchased or otherwise, and goofy pictures of ourselves or memes that we send to each other. It's there with us when he stays up past midnight to tell me goodnight during my break, and I stay up to tell him good morning and wish him a good day at one in the morning. It's in the "sweet dreams" and "i saw this and thought of you" and "I'll be back soon"s.
Just because we're an ocean apart, doesn't mean we can't show each other just how much we care. We knew it would be hard--It still is. And long distance isn't for everyone. But my boyfriend and I have taken on a lot together, and we're still here one year later.
I look back sometimes at that first RP thread, and that first drawing I made for him. A lot has changed since then. Friends have come and gone, I've graduated and started college, he's started a new job, I've got my first job--but he's still the same guy I fell for last year. Anyone in a relationship will tell you it isn't easy, and it's just the same with us. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Happy one-year anniversary, Jack. I love you to the moon and back.
(London, July 2015)
