We were in our second half of the Spring semester. Living with Ryan had been a dream. We got to wake up every day to each other and end every night in each other’s arms. Every evening was wonderful too. Ryan usually made a fabulous dinner, and we ate together as we caught up on our day. We’d either study together at the kitchen table or drive out to Memorial Library.

Of course, I hadn’t told Mama and Daddy I’d moved in with Ryan. They’d be terribly upset! I’d been raised Catholic, and my parents believed a woman and man should be married before living together.

I explained everything to Natalie, in case, my parents ever dropped by, although the chances of that were pretty slim since my brothers and sisters had busy schedules to keep up with. I kept a few things at the dorm to make it appear I stilled lived there just in case. Natalie was a great roommate, and I’d initially felt bad for bailing on her, but she had started dating Trent. I think she liked having the dorm room all to herself.

It was a difficult lie to keep up because I’d never been dishonest with my parents before. Whenever they’d call, I’d run into another room to talk to them. Last week, my family called when Ryan and I were in bed. I knew if I didn’t pick up, Mama would keep calling because she knew my schedule pretty well. She was a worry wart.

I grabbed my cell phone, leapt out of bed, and hurdled myself into the living room as I answered. It was hard to lie to my parents when Ryan was lying right next to me. It must be the Catholic guilt thing.

The whole family was on the line on speakerphone. “Kassie Lee!”

“Hi, Mama!” I said, flopping down on the couch.

“You okay, honey? You sound out of breath!”

“Oh, ya! I’m okay. How are all of you?” I asked, hoping she wouldn’t inquire further.

Lilah screamed, “Baby Toby can talk now!”

I gasped. “He can talk!” My little brother could talk! I missed my family so much.

James screeched, “Talk Toby! Talk!”

Jeanie interjected, “James, he can’t talk on command.”

Lilah protested, “Yes, he can!” I could hear Lilah clapping her hands. “Toby! Toby! Say bye bye!”

After a few expectant moments, I could hear Toby in his baby voice say, "Bah-bye!"

My family erupted into a cheer. Daddy’s deep voice rose above the others. “That’s my boy!”

“Awww! Good job Toby!” I said.

My mom broke in, “How are you doing, Kassie? You taking a break for yourself? Don’t work yourself to death.”

I cringed, thinking about how much fun I’d been having living with Ryan. That tiny bit of guilt inside of me for not being one hundred percent honest with my parents dug into my side.

Besides, my living situation was only temporary. Ryan would be leaving soon. My life would go back to normal, and this dream come true would end. Every time I thought about it, I would tear up, but I made sure to not cry in front of him. It wouldn’t do any good to spend our time crying and being sad together. All we had control over was the time we had left, and I wanted to make the best of it.

Even so, lately, I'd noticed Ryan growing noticeably more and more stressed and anxious as the semester progressed. A few nights I'd wake up alone in bed. When I'd gotten up and peeked in on him, he was on his computer, researching his baseball team options.

He’d called his cousin, Alex, a few times, too, for advice. Ryan had told me that Alex and his wife, Jasmine, went through a similar situation when Alex graduated, but Jasmine was still at The University of Florida. Hearing about their story was reassuring.

Although ultimately, Alex and Jasmine hadn’t been forced to be apart, Ryan told me that they would have worked it out in a long distance relationship no matter what. Long distance would be difficult though. Could Ryan and I withstand the distance? Would our relationship interfere with our personal goals? Was it really fair to make Ryan be in a relationship with me when he was so far away and struggling to adjust to his first year on a new team?

Likewise, would I spend too much time talking with him on Skype, texting him, thinking about him, and dreaming about him? Would a long distance relationship interfere with my studies? I’d made the Dean’s List last semester. I planned to be on that list every semester. Could I keep it up with the extra work of keeping up a long distance relationship with someone so far away? And aside from that, what if we just grew apart?

So far, four minor league teams were interested in him: the San Jose Giants, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, and the Modesto Nuts, all three teams were in California, and the Portland Sea Dogs in Oregon. All four of those teams were out west, far away from me.

Knowing how much his baseball career meant to him, I only showed encouraging support even if the team in question would mean he would leave me. This was his dream. Who was I to not support the man I love’s dream?

My dreams were coming true right before my eyes. To my surprise, I was awarded Dr. Zhu's coveted undergraduate research assistant position. It meant an incredibly busy schedule for me, but I was learning about electrochemical recovery systems and benefiting from world-class mentorship from an accomplished female engineer.

One night, I’d had a later day than usual from helping Dr. Zhu in the lab. I’d come home to Ryan in the kitchen making Carbonada Criolla. I loved this dish. It was a beef stew with sweet dried fruits like apricots and raisins, sweet potato, and winter squash. The first time I’d had it I was astounded at the perfect mix of sweet and lush savor.

Excitedly walking into the kitchen, I exclaimed, “Carbonada Criolla!”

Ryan looked up from the stove smiling, “Yep!”

I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around him. “It smells so delicious!”

He tapped the wooden spoon on the pot edge and put on the lid. He grabbed my hand and turned to me. “I got a call today.”

I’d hoped it was about a team nearby, but I stayed my voice just in case. “Ya?”

He walked me over to the kitchen table.

Uh oh.

The look on his face told me that this wasn’t exactly the best of news. He continued, “The Detroit Tigers are interested in me.”

I swallowed. “Detroit, huh?”

He nodded, looking down at this hands. “They’re a major league team.”

Trying the best I could, I smiled and squeezed his hand happily. “That’s fantastic, Ryan!”

He squeezed my hand back. “The scout was honest with me though. He said that I won’t actually get any real playing time. They’ve got an awesome lineup as it is: Fulmer, Sanchez, Zimmerman.” Ryan cleared his throat, his eyes looking away deep in thought.

Unsure of how to help him and just wanting to support whatever decision he made, I stayed quiet, holding onto his hand, encouraging him to speak his mind.

“The only real benefit of joining the Tigers would be the practice time I’d get with those guys, and that kind of training with those coaches could be worth it in the long run.” He scratched his chin. “Could be.”

“They would be great,” I said, agreeing with his train of thought.

He shook his head. “But, I’ve read all the research. An average pitcher’s career length used to be 5.6 years, but that study was done in 2007. Now, they’re saying with more research, like in kinesiology, pitchers’ careers are seeing a longer term.”

“That’s fantastic!” I exclaimed. I admired Ryan’s scientific mind as he applied it to athletics. He was truly an amazing man.

“But…” Okay. There was a but. I listened intently wanting to understand more about Ryan’s dilemma.

“There is still a chance that with all the medical research and advances, I could get injured. I could get injured in practice just as much as I could get injured playing in a game.”

“That’s true.” I nodded in agreement.

“The question is: do I want to risk injury playing in actual games even if they’re just minor league games or practicing in the big leagues? I love the rush of pitching in a game. A real game.”

This I understood. Cheerleading practice was nothing to actually cheering during a game. “I can see that,” I said.

He groaned. “It still doesn’t solve the problem of us not being together! All of these teams are nowhere near here.”

I sighed. “I know.”

He looked me in the face, pleading. “Can you just come wherever I go? You’re so smart. You can go anywhere.”

My heart ached. “Ryan, I’m on scholarship here at LSU. My parents couldn’t afford to send me to school. I have to stay here.” I looked down at the table, knowing both of our hearts were breaking. “And I’ve just gotten the research position with Dr. Zhu. Going to college has been my dream. I’m sorry, but I can’t give that up.”

Ryan's face softened apologetically. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. This is your dream. I can't ask you to give up your dreams when you're not asking me to give up mine. That was selfish of me." He brushed his fingertips down from my temple to my chin. "And I'm so proud of you for getting that research position. It is a kick-ass opportunity for your career. I'd hate myself if I got in the way of your goals."

His words touched me, bringing tears to my eyes. “I’d hate to get in the way of your goals too.”

Tears sprung to his eyes. “I’m just going to miss you so much, Kassie.”

I climbed onto his lap and buried my face into his neck, letting the tears run down freely on my face. Soon, this fairytale would come to an end.