Katriel took a deep breath and made the decision she had been dreading for weeks. Calvin's darkness was undeniable and she could no longer allow herself to be part of it. With quiet resolve, she ended the relationship, cutting ties completely. The relief was immediate yet bitter ,she had lost trust in someone she had started to care for but she also regained herself.
Meanwhile, Trez was preparing for a return to Nigeria. After months apart, he had completed his final year in Turkey and secured a job that allowed him to stay closer to Katriel. The moment he landed, a rush of excitement and nerves coursed through him. Would she still feel the same way? Could the love that had survived distance and heartbreak withstand this reunion?Their first meeting was in the same quiet café where they had last met. Katriel's heart raced as she saw him walk through the door. Trez stopped, eyes searching for her, then smiled the same smile that had once made her heart flutter uncontrollably.
"Katriel," he said softly, taking her hand, "I'm here. I'm not leaving this time."
Tears threatened to spill but Katriel smiled through them. In that moment all the months of pain, of longing, seemed to melt away. They spent the evening talking, laughing and catching up on everything they had missed as if the distance had never existed. They wandered through quiet streets, shared ice cream by the park and reminisced about small memories they had created before the painful separation. Each laugh, each touch, felt like reclaiming pieces of their lost time.
Over the next months, Trez settled into Nigeria and into Katriel's life. He introduced her to his family, who welcomed her with warmth and affection, sharing in the love he carried for her. Katriel in turn introduced Trez to her family, whose approval and happiness mirrored her own. Weekends were filled with shared meals, Sunday walks, and long evenings where they would sit together on the balcony watching the sunset while talking about dreams, fears and the future. Every moment felt like a treasure, a collection of memories they carefully stored in their hearts.Together, they built a life of stability and trust. The past ,the loss, the distance, the pain with Calvin no longer had the power to define them. They celebrated small victories, comforted each other in moments of stress and planned a future together, learning how to cherish the present even as they looked forward to what was to come.
Time passed and Katriel graduated. The ceremony was filled with pride, tears, and laughter. Trez stood at her side his hand in hers, cheering the loudest as she received her degree. They had endured so much, yet here they were stronger, together and ready to face the world as Eng.Trez and Dr.Katriel.
Soon after,an opportunity arose for Katriel to work in South Africa. The decision was difficult. Leaving Trez even temporarily felt like stepping into a shadowed room after months of sunlight. But they both knew that career and growth were important that love didn't mean standing still.
On the day of her departure, they stood at the airport, holding each other tightly. Their eyes reflected the depth of their connection ,a love tested by distance, loss, and trials, yet unbroken.
"Distance again," Trez said, his voice steady despite the ache in his chest.
Katriel nodded, brushing a tear from her cheek. "But this time, we know how to endure it. We'll make it work."
They kissed, a lingering, tender kiss filled with the weight of all they had shared and all they had yet to experience. And as Katriel walked toward the gate, she knew that although miles would separate them their hearts remained inseparable.In the months that followed, video calls and messages kept them connected. They shared the small details of their lives ,the victories and challenges, the mundane and the magical. Trez would leave little surprises on her doorstep before she left for South Africa and she would send him photos of the city skyline, sunsets, and moments that made her think of him. Each conversation was a reminder that distance could not weaken the bond they had forged through love, patience, and resilience.
Though separated, their hearts were full of hope and anticipation for the future. They had survived heartbreak, betrayal, and uncertainty, and now they were learning that love ,true love could endure anything. And in that endurance, they discovered a quiet, powerful joy: the certainty that no matter the distance, they would always find their way back to each other.
Katriel often reflected on how much she had grown stronger, wiser and more certain of what she wanted from life and love. And even though South Africa was far away, she felt a deep, unshakable comfort knowing that Trez, her first and enduring love was building a life nearby, waiting for the day they could finally close the gap between them for good.