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Brady sat at the kitchen table, staring down at a cup of coffee he wasn't drinking. His dad, Joe, sat across from him, wearing a crisp button-up shirt and his usual air of authority.
"You've got the grades, Brady. Hell, you've got the SAT scores, too. You're exactly what schools like Harvard and Yale are looking for," Joe said, his voice brimming with encouragement. "And have you thought about Oxford or Cambridge, in England? With your interest in literature and philosophy, you'd thrive there."
Brady glanced up, trying to mask his discomfort. The truth was, the names of those schools, as prestigious as they were, felt hollow. His mind was elsewhere--on David.
"I don't know, Dad," Brady said hesitantly. "Those places... they're really far away."
Joe waved a hand dismissively. "Distance shouldn't matter when it comes to your future. You'll be making connections, opening doors that most people only dream about. Don't sell yourself short, son."
Brady nodded, feeling the pressure of his father's expectations. "I'll think about it," he said, though his heart wasn't in it.
A few days later, Brady and David were sprawled on the grass at Donovan Park, the sun setting behind them.
"My parents and I talked about college," David said, breaking the comfortable silence.
Brady turned to him. "Yeah? What are you thinking?"
David sighed, plucking a blade of grass and twirling it between his fingers. "I'll probably stay in Illinois. Go to a public university like Urbana-Champaign. Our family can't really afford anything else."
Brady's heart sank. "But... you're applying to other places too, right?"
David shrugged. "Well... I'm applying to the scholarship at MIT. But come on, Brady, you know how competitive it is. I mean, they get thousands of applicants, and they're all brilliant. It's not even worth planning around."
Brady frowned, a heavy feeling settling in his chest.
"I get it," David continued, glancing at him. "It's not like you have to stay in Illinois just because I'm here. You should go wherever you want--Harvard, Yale, wherever."
Brady shook his head. "No. I'm staying."
David sat up, startled. "What?"
"I'm staying in Illinois," Brady said firmly. "I'll apply to the University of Chicago. It's a great school, and it's not far. I want to stay close to you."
David stared at him, his expression a mix of disbelief and gratitude. "Brady... you don't have to do that."
"I know," Brady said softly. "But I want to."
Brady's decision was solidified when he visited the University of Chicago on an open day. The campus was beautiful, with its gothic architecture and vibrant energy. The students he met seemed passionate and driven, and the literature and philosophy programs were everything he could have hoped for.
As he stood in the courtyard, sunlight streaming through the trees, Brady felt a sense of clarity. This was where he wanted to be, and being close to David made it perfect.
A few months later, Brady was in his room when David showed up, his expression unusually serious.
"Hey," Brady said, standing up from his chair.
David closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. "I have news."
Brady's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"
David smiled, but it was laced with something bittersweet. "I got the scholarship. To MIT."
Brady froze, the words hitting him like a punch to the gut. "You... you got it?"
David nodded. "Yeah. And I accepted."
Brady swallowed hard, forcing himself to smile. "That's... that's amazing, David. You totally deserve it."
David stepped closer, taking Brady's hands in his. "I didn't want to tell you until I was sure. I know this changes everything, but... we'll make it work. We'll still be boyfriends, okay? Long distance isn't easy, but we can do it."
Brady nodded, though his throat felt tight. "Yeah. We can do it."
"I have to go now, cuz I'm going out to dinner with my parents, but I'll text you later ok?" David said apologetically.
They hugged, and David kissed him softly before leaving.
As soon as the door closed, Brady collapsed onto his bed, bursting into tears. He buried his face in his pillow, the pain of it all crashing over him. He felt terrified, but also betrayed. It felt like David was choosing his future career over their relationship. And if he knew that David would end up at MIT, he could've applied to Harvard or another school in that part of the country. But now it was too late. It all seemed like a total disaster.
A soft knock on the door startled him. "Brady? Are you okay?" Ellen's voice came through the door.
Brady wiped his face and looked up.
Ellen stepped inside, her expression immediately softening when she saw his tear-streaked face. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
Brady hesitated, then blurted it out. "David got a scholarship to MIT. He's going. And I'm happy for him, I really am, but... I'm so scared, Mom. I'm going to miss him so much."
Ellen sat down beside him, pulling him into a hug. "It's okay, Brady. You'll still get to see him during the holidays, right?"
Brady pulled back, shaking his head. "You don't understand."
"What don't I understand?"
Brady's voice cracked as he said it. "I love him, Mom! I love him more than anything!"
Ellen froze, her eyes widening as the pieces clicked into place. She exhaled softly, her face melting into an expression of pure compassion. "Oh, Brady..."
He looked at her, tears streaming down his face, barely able to talk. "I don't know what I'm going to do without him."
Ellen pulled him into her arms again, holding him tightly. "You're stronger than you think. And love... love doesn't just disappear because of distance. If it's real, it'll find a way."
Brady clung to her, his heart aching, but her words offered a tiny glimmer of hope. For now, that would have to be enough.