I stood at the end of the security line, right at the edge where the TSA agent would come every so often to ask us to back up.  I didn’t know if I’d see him, or if he’d turn around to see me, but I waited just in case.  I hoped for one last glimpse, one last wave, before sending him off to the other side of the world.

In our normal lives, Kamran and I spend a lot of time together.  We live together and work together, and pretty much do everything together.  Since we met, we’ve rarely spent more than a couple days apart.

I’m a very independent girl, and so I never imagined myself in a relationship like this.  I guess, I never imagined finding somebody that I liked enough that I would want to spend all my time with them.  But with Kamran, it’s just natural.  It’s easy.  After five years, he still surprises me and I never get tired of being together.  He pushes me, supports me, challenges me, and most of all makes my world a lot better.  I certainly wouldn’t be here writing to you if it weren’t for him.

So now, after many many years, he has finally gone home for two weeks to visit his family.  A last minute decision, but hopefully for the best.  It makes my heart happy to know that he’s finally home with those that have missed him for so many years, but I am counting the days until he returns to me.  Our home is too quiet and somehow empty without him.

At the last minute, at the gate, he did find the one spot where he would look back and see me.  And he did look back, and waved.

Photos by Jeffrey Shipley