He poured everything he had into the kiss, never wanting her to doubt his love, even if it was goodbye.
Jack read his assignment after graduation. Naval Base San Diego. California.
The West Coast. About as far from Virginia as he could get without leaving the country.
Jack sat on his bed, staring at the letter. San Diego. Where he'd spend his time training and preparing for deployment. Where he'd be when Rachel graduated from ODU and started her teaching career. Where he'd be when she moved on with her life, possibly finding someone who could actually be there for her.
The distance felt like a death sentence. But maybe that was for the best. Clean break. No chance to make this harder than it already was.
His phone sat heavy in his pocket. He could text her. Tell her about San Diego. Jack pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over Rachel's name in his contacts. The photo attached to her profile was from two summers ago. Her smile was bright, her eyes full of trust and love.
He wondered if she'd ever look at him that way again. Finally, Jack typed out a message. Short. Simple. All he could manage without falling apart.
I'm being assigned to San Diego. I’m sorry I can’t tell you in person. He hit Send before he could second-guess himself. His phone rang immediately.
“Oh, Jack… I don’t know what to say,” Rachel cried. “I’m happy for you… and sad for us.”
“Yeah.” That was all he managed to get out.
“This really is a break, isn’t it?”
He heard the heartbreak in her voice, but he couldn’t lie to her. “Yeah, Rachel. I’d hoped we could have stayed close enough to keep trying, but this distance…”
They were silent for a moment, and he wasn’t sure if she was still on the phone. Finally, she said, “I’ll always love you, you know.”
“Same to you, Rach. Always, my love.”
They talked for several more awkward minutes, the silences punctuated with tears and promises to keep in touch. Finally, his fellow midshipmen who had also received their assignments filled the air with shouts of excitement.
“You need to go,” she said softly. “I can hear that it’s time for celebrations.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, torn between wanting to keep talking and wanting to see who else was heading to the West Coast with him.
“Goodbye, Jack,” Rachel said, the words barely heard over a sob she emitted just before she disconnected.
Before he could process what the distance truly meant to them, his room was filled with friends clamoring to find out his assignment.
It was later that day when he called his dad to give him the news. He preferred his dad relaying the information to his mom. She would be happy, but would hate that he wouldn’t be close to home for years… and that he and Rachel were no longer a couple.
“You doing okay, son?”
“As good as I can, I suppose.”
“A final breakup with someone you love is never easy,” Colt said quietly. “Even when you think it's the right thing to do.”
“It is the right thing.” Jack's voice came out hoarse. “She deserves someone who can be there. I can't be that person.”
“Maybe not right now. But Jack, if she's the one, the timing will work out eventually. And if she's not, then you'll both move on and find your own paths.”
“What if I don't want to move on?”
“Then you won't.” Colt's expression was understanding. “But you'll live anyway. You'll serve your country, build your career, and become the man you're meant to be. And maybe, when the time is right, your paths will cross again.”
Jack wanted to believe that. Wanted to think there was a future where he and Rachel could find their way back to each other. But standing in the cold, thinking about a life that would take him to California, it felt impossible.
“What if she hates me?” Jack asked. “What if I've hurt her so many times that she never wants to see me again?”
“Then you'll have learned a hard lesson about love and loss.” Colt's voice was gentle but firm. “But Jack, I've seen the way that girl looks at you. And I've seen the way you look at her. That kind of love doesn't just disappear, even when it needs to take a break.”
