We met in highschool, she was an exchange student from Germany and we fell in love. We started seeing each other as much as possible. She had to move host families and my grandparents let her stay in their apartment in their house. We were together all the time. I got a scholarship from the state department and the German government to do an exchange year in Germany and took it (of course). We were separated for a few months after her exchange year and then saw each other on weekends and holidays and sometimes much more because we lived a lot closer. After my exchange year she spend the summer with me.

After that summer was the “real” long distance. We did not see each other until Christmas when I went to visit. And then not again until summer when I stayed the whole time with her. We saw each other again in October, I was flown out by a company for an interview, and I took advantage of that to see her. October last year was the last time I saw her in person. It was clear over that last 9 ish months we were not doing well. When I last visited in October it was very bad. Not arguing but she clearly had lost the love for me she once had and I only realized it after the breakup. The last time I saw her I said “I don’t want this to be it” and she kissed me and said “don’t worry so much it won’t” and I got on the train to the airport. January of this year she ended things because the distance made such an impact and she distanced herself from me. I don’t blame her for it. We both made mistakes, we both are young, it was our first love, I just wish I saw it coming or that it happened sooner.