My boyfriend, Derek and I, have been together for 6 years. We have spent the last 3 years having significant miles between us. Of course, it’s hard, but the hardest things in life are always the most rewarding. I can’t wait for the day we close the distance and live together, but we know that day will not come for a long time. In the meantime, there are so many moments we share that make every moment apart so worth it.

When we haven’t been together in a long time, every second in closeness is magical. The moment I see him at the airport while picking him up always puts butterflies in my stomach, no matter how many times we go through the routine. The drive home and hearing about the flight and travel warms my heart, despite how blase the process.

As our visit goes on, we make memories. Something as simple as a funny line in an episode of "Flash" that made us laugh until we cried or our slow dances at my Senior prom. These memories are what get us through the months upon months we go without seeing one another.

At the end of the visit, it’s always sad. I cry at the airport no matter how many times we have to part at security, it never gets easier. But, we never say “goodbye.” “Goodbye” is not in our vocabulary. We will always see each other again, so every trip to the airport to go home is only a “see you later.”

One day, the furthest distance we’ll be away from each other is from our home and work, and we continue to work toward that every single day, no matter how many years we spend in a long distance relationship.