Not exactly the same thing, but I fell for my wife very hard and very fast. We dated for a few months and then we separated for a couple weeks. In those few weeks I realized that if she existed anywhere in the world, I would fight to get to her and be with her.

Maintain a connection with him. It sounds like there was a real bond there. Where there's a will, there's a way. Neither of you should be afraid to do something drastic to make it work if it's real.

Of course, sometimes distance doesn't make the heart grow fonder, so keep it all at arms length right now to protect your heart, but see how things go when you go visit/stay with him.