August 7, 2016 the day he asked me to be his girlfriend. I remember it all so clearly as if it just was yesterday. I was only fifteen at the time and I was heading into my sophomore year at Riverdale High. Archie was my first true love and hopefully my only. We met when I first moved to Riverdale at Pop's when I was picking up a take out order for me and my family. Our relationship blossomed from being acquaintances to high school lovers. Everyone considered us high school sweethearts.
Archie is a very adventurous person. He is one of the brightest people at Willis High School. His smile lightens up my day and many others. He is the man of every girl's dreams. To this day I still haven't got a single clue why he chose to be with me in the first place. I mean I was never as popular as him, I'm just a girl with a dorky personality.
Archie and I have a strong connection. He knows me inside out and I open up to him more than I do to my friends. He is a very trust-worthy person. He also is a very deep person. Everything he says has a lot of meaning.
I still remember the first gift that he gave me which was an infinity charm bracelet with our first initials on it. He told me that whenever he wasn't there or if I miss him to just look down at the bracelet and imagine him there by my side.
Archie and I have a trustworthy relationship. We rarely fight, but when we do it resolves quickly. We love each other very deeply. Me and Archie plan to get married after high school. For college I decided to go to Columbia University in New York City, New York to pursue a career in business. While Archie decided to go to Berkeley Law in Berkeley, California to become a lawyer. I thought that Archie and I could have a long distance relationship and I also thought he did too. That was until August 17, 2020.
August 17, 2020 the day Archie left for college. It was a bright sunny day. I still remember every little detail like its tattooed in my brain. That day I had worn a lavender 90s slip dress over a white t-shirt and the infinity bracelet Archie gifted me with.
Archie and I were at the airport. We were at the airport because Archie was boarding the plane to go to Berkeley. It was six twenty-nine at night and his plane leaves at six forty-six pm. Everytime I see him, my heart skips a beat. He wore his usual clothing black jeans with a solid color t-shirt. He was about to board his plane and I knew something was wrong by the way he was standing and looking at me. His expression on his face was scaring me a little bit. He gave me a long and urgent kiss. Then he said those four words I never thought to hear.
"We need to talk." He said with a serious tone. My face ran crazy and I started to shake. I was scared; terrified of what he was about to tell me. "Okay..." I said with a shaky voice. He took my hands. We sat down and he looked me straight in the eyes.
"Veronica," he said, "I have something to tell you. I'm making this decision because I love you, I do. I really do." He took a deep breath, took my hands in his, and all I could do was cry silently. "I think it would be best if we break up. I think this would be the best option for both of us since we both are going to college on the opposite sides of the U.S.," He told me. "I still think that we should be together despite what is to come, but I'm afraid that the almost three thousand mile distance will be hard on us and we won't be as close as we were in high school."
"Flight DL2471 to Oakland, California please get ready to board." A lady said over the intercom. "While we might get through the distance, just know that if you need anything because life gets hard or complicated, I'm one call away and a shoulder you can always cry on. I love you Veronica Cecilia Lodge. I love you with all my heart." He told me with a distressed expression. He gave me a long kiss on the lips, then the cheek, and walked away.
I just stood in the middle of the airport, my heart heavy and my eyes swollen with tears. I raise my head and watch him board the plane. I don't know how long I stood there. It could have been hours, or maybe minutes. I wasn't in a hurry to get home. I knew no one would be looking for me. I should've seen this coming. I mean we both are going to college on the opposite sides of the continent.
The next few months went by in a blur. Day after day I felt pain. The pain was unbearable. Everyday I think about Archie. I wonder why he broke up with me? Thinking about how we used to be. I think about all of the kisses, hugs, laughter and happiness that we shared.
Before I knew it, it was the summer of 2021. It's been a year since our breakup, and I still haven't gotten over Archie.
Almost every night I look at the bracelet Archie gave to me. I clutch it close to my heart, and cry. Sometimes at night I feel Archie sitting next to me even though he is far beyond my reach. That only makes matters worse. The worst way to miss someone is when you're right next to them wanting to reach out and touch them, but you know that they are not there.
June 12, 2021 the day I saw Archie again. A few days before Archie texted me saying:
Hey, Ronnie! I just wanted to text to tell you that I miss you. I miss you dearly. And I have been thinking about how I made the wrong decision of breaking up with you. In a few days I will be heading to New York for a college field trip. I wanted to know if you wanted to meet up and hang out soon?
I smile down at the text he sent me and start to text back saying:
Hello Archie! It's been a long time, what a year? I miss you deeply too. So much. And yes it would be so fun to meet up and chat about lost times.
So when June, 12 came we decided to meet up at a little cafe in Times Square. From there we kept in touch with each other and our feelings began to blossom again. So a few months later we became boyfriend and girlfriend again. And I couldn't be any happier.
