My heart was pounding.
One minute she was there and the next she was gone. I was all alone in the world.
I started to think about all the things that could go horribly wrong (spontaneous combustion, abduction, her meeting a new friend, etc.) but I stopped because those thoughts were just too awful.
Here are 5 things I learned about long distance relationships in the five minutes I was separated from my best friend:
1. Communication is key.
Once I realized she was gone, I started to send messages across all of our social media platforms we shared. She got those little one word texts like, "WHERE ARE YOU ??!" and "COME BACKKK!!" She also got twitter memes I had saved especially for this occasion through Twitter Messenger and gifs describing my unbearable sadness via FB. Even so, she didn't reply instantly as usual. Long-Distance Relationships (LDR's) are a two-way street and it seemed like I had strayed into a dark alleyway with no cell service.
2. LDRs are hard.
I felt alone. One minute I was having a deep conversation with my best friend and the next I was jumping to outrageous conclusions regarding her fate. I didn't know what to do with myself. I no longer had someone to talk to at all hours of the day and I no longer had an adventure buddy. My world was falling apart. But I guess that's what makes people in LDR's so strong - they have to deal with these thoughts every day.
3. Goodbyes are never easy.
If only I had known this was goodbye three minutes ago. Goodbyes are a funny thing - they come and go too quickly and are often missed opportunities. I would have started on a speech full of love and laughter for my best friend and it still would not have been enough to completely fulfill the purpose of a proper goodbye. The end often comes too quickly and it's a feeling those in LDR's know all to well.
4. Moments spent together are precious.
It was minute four away from my best friend and I started replaying our sweetest memories back in my head. I would never be able to hammock in the park with someone for hours, explore downtown, or eat lunch again. It just wouldn't be the same. I began to plan my memory board and thought of all of the memes that would surround our pictures together so I would never forget the precious moments we shared.
5. The reunion is always the sweetest.
Five minutes away from my best friend and my heart was breaking. I decided to search for her in the place I saw her last so I turned my head to the right. All I saw was two senior best friends on their morning walk and the waves lapping at their feet. 'That could never be us,' I thought, because I had lost mine five minutes ago.
All of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my back followed by an indecipherable scream. I turned around to see her smiling face with more damp sand balls in her hands.
It turns out she had just gone to the restroom. She told me I would've known that if I had correctly interpreted her gif usage through text sent six minutes ago. We continued to walk down the beach and I made sure to walk at an angle so I could drive her into the water and splash her as punishment for scaring me.
Although LDR's can be tough at times, they are the strongest relationships of them all. I would never trade my LDR for anything.
