~

            “I got in!!”  I jumped up and down as I read the line out loud, “We are pleased to inform you of your acceptance into the New York University Bachelor’s of the Arts Program in English!”  I could not have been happier in that moment.  I was afraid that having taken a semester off after high school would have hurt my chances of getting in.  I truthfully did not know what I wanted to do, but after eloping to the city on graduation day, I knew I wanted to spend a lot more time there.  When we had returned I sent an application to NYU for the spring semester.  Now I was in.  I looked over at Ashley sitting on the edge of my bed as she tried to share my enthusiasm, but she was unconvincing.  I walked over and kneeled in front of her between her legs, resting my forearms on her legs. 

            “What’s wrong?”

            “Nothing.  I am sooo happy for you.”  I knew at least the second part was said in complete sincerity.  

            “You suck at lying, but I’m glad you try.”  She looked at me and smiled.

            “As long as you are happy, then I am happy.”

            “Are you upset I will be in school in New York?”

            “No, I don’t mind having you 3000 miles away. Why would I be upset?”  Sarcasm.  Not helping.

            “A semester is only four months and I will come home during each break and we will have the whole summer together.”

            “What if you meet someone else?”

            “There will never be anyone else for me.”  I rubbed my hands across the fabric covering her thighs, trying to help her see we would make it through.  “You could always move there with me.”

            “You know I still have another year before I get my AA.  None of my credits would transfer anywhere.”  There was a long silence and I could tell she was trying to think of what to say next.  “If this is what you want then I support you 100%. I love you enough to let you go.”  I wrapped my arms around her back and laid my head in her lap.

~

            She loved me enough to let me go.  And without hesitation, I packed my bags and moved to New York.  I found a small apartment off campus being sublet for an almost reasonable price.  We talked every night that first semester.  I had flown back twice and she even came to visit me once.  I had joined the school paper that year and I considered changing my major to journalism.  As May came around, I was excited to be going home for the summer.  Those plans fell through.  The editor was so impressed by my work that he offered me a summer internship at the New York Times. How could I pass that up?

~

            “Spencer!”  Ashley yelled into the phone as I broke to her the bittersweet news that I would not be coming back for the summer.  “Well good luck.”  She slammed down the phone. I knew I could not hold it against her.  I figured I would give her a day or two to cool down before I would call her again.  But that would not be necessary.  Twenty -two hours later she was knocking on my door.  She had a suitcase in tow and she looked like hell. 

            “Oh my god, what are you doing here?”

            “Is the offer to move in with you still on the table?”

“Of course.”  I said pulling her into the apartment.

~

            She loved me enough to leave her life in LA at the drop of a hat and move across the country.  She loved me enough to spend another semester in college. She loved me that much.