"So when are you leaving?" Sam asked Mercedes as he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Soon." she whispered.
"It's not going to change anything Mercy." he whispered.
"Do you promise?" she whispered back, looking him in the eyes.
"Of course." he said kissing her forehead. "California isn't that far. Only a few hours by plane."
"It's far enough."
"You'll be home on holidays." he said.
"But what about the in between time?" she asked.
"We'll Skype, text, email and anything else we can." he answered. "This is going to work." Mercedes didn't say anything. She just snuggled closer to him. "Do you believe me?"
"Yes." Mercedes whispered.
"I want you to remember something whenever you think of me but you can't get a hold of me." Sam said softly. "Come what may, I will love you until my dying day." he felt Mercedes' warm tears on this slim fit v-neck t-shirt.
"Come what may, I will love you until the end of time." Mercedes whispered back wiping the tears from her eyes.
"If we remember that, we'll make it through." Sam said. Mercedes smiled at him before leaning up to kiss him.