41
We got up at 6AM. He had to be off by 7 for the fifteen-hour drive back to Syracuse, so I fixed a quick breakfast of instant oatmeal, bananas, and coffee while he showered down the hall in the guys’ dorm bathroom.
Afterwards I accompanied him down to the street in a t-shirt, PJ bottoms, and flip-flops.
“I’m so glad I got to see you,” he said as we hugged and kissed by his car. “You happy I came down?”
“Of course. Text me when you get in? No matter how late?”
“You don’t want me to call?” he asked, slightly offended.
“Shanna might be asleep. I don’t want to wake her up.”
“Oh… okay, sure.” He stared deeply into my eyes. “Are we okay?”
“Yes, of course!” I smiled reassuringly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m more than okay,” he smiled, and hugged me close. “I can’t wait till school is over… and then next year…”
“It’s going to be great,” I said as we held each other. “Everything’s going to be great.”
In retrospect, I wonder if I was honestly looking forward to it… or if I was trying to reassure myself.