But the road ahead wasn’t going to be easy – not with an ocean between us, cultural differences, conflicting expectations and shaky communication. But there was the desire to make certain that our lives would fit seamlessly together. What began as fantasy transformed into stinging sacrifice and slow-churning devotion. Mutual understanding was gradual, unbridled respect was learned and selflessness was…well is still a work in progress.

Just because you fall in love in Paris doesn’t mean the path is all roses, accordions and baskets of croissants.

I’m not the first one to say it, but most of us tend to air on the side of pessimism. We always seem to on the verge of some kind of collapse. The world is conspiring against us.

But..where’s all the love?

“Right” may look like a Mister, all bundled up in his super-winter gear, a heavy coat with more pockets than one could ever possibly need unless they were carrying around a lifetime worth of individually wrapped Starbusts for a “snack break,” he may walk in carrying bags with just enough to leave his day-to-day to exist off of to be with you, and he may lay those bags at your feet and with an unspoken understanding that lets you know that, he’s along for the ride…..

There’s nothing that beats the beauty found and sense of accomplishment when you’ve reached the summit of a peak. You have a 360° panoramic picture and the fact of being above 13,000ft is literally breathtaking!

Being at the top of the world, you get an absolute sense of how small you really are and your troubles… You are more balanced and you feel less mentally strained by your troubles. You know in the back of your mind your troubles are there, but you’re able to put them into better perspective, possibly realizing those troubles are just a blip on the screen of your life or even coming up with a solution to what worries you.

If you’ve never experienced the view from the top of the world, trust me, add it to your to-do list!

By the end of the night, it was as if I had just had the best sex of my life, without so much as having shared a kiss.

I knew nothing about him, except that I needed more.

And more I got.

Candlelit dinners, walks through parks, sensual kisses on street corners, and giggly phone calls lasting well into the night came, and came some more.

I was falling for him, and hard.

And I kept falling for him, even after I found out the truth.

Seven whole months later.

I was panting, sweat running down my face and my legs were aching from exertion. I thought I was going to pass out from how tired I was. All I could think was, “How much longer can I keep doing this?”

The answer was simple, for as long as my body would allow.