Does distance really make the heart grow fonder, or does just the idea of distance break said heart? Long-distance relationships are often feared by couples so close. The thought of being away from the one person who makes each day worthwhile can be frightening to most in serious relationships, but, is there really anything to fear from long-distance relationships. I would love to say that those kinds of relationships are a breeze, a walk in the park or easy, but I’d be lying. The truth is that they are extremely taxing on the heart. This is not to discourage those who might be entering into this sort of relationship, but to warn them of what lies ahead. The ‘long-distance’ part of the term long-distance relationship can mean many things. That distance may equate to mere miles apart or on a grander scale, continents apart. The distance is never the hard part; it’s the fact that the couple is no longer together physically that is scary. It’s this space between two people that defines how dedicated they are to one another. Two people who undoubtedly value each other’s presence will not let go of what they have just because of the inconvenience it poses for them to take a train, bus, car, or plane ride to see each other. From my own experience, I have taken about 10 trips to Gettysburg, many of those being long car rides and cramped bus trips, to see my boyfriend of two years. After over a year of being long-distance, it has become easier to plan visits to see each other and arrange for transportation. But that doesn’t mean it still isn’t challenging in other ways. Emotionally, long-distance relationships can be what ends a perfectly good connection. Say you have one person who is always around. You two are always together, going to the movies, doing homework and never leaving each other’s side. When that person goes away, it can be very sad and lonely for both people. Even though both physical and emotional stress are a major part of long-distance relationships, they are manageable. Whether it is a friend, family member, boyfriend or girlfriend who is moving away, never give up on the strong connections you make with people, despite whatever crosses your path. It kills me to see perfectly good couples break-up just because they don’t think they can handle being so far away from each other. If anything, distance lets you see how committed your significant other is to you. A bit of a cliché, if it was meant to be, let it. However, don’t end a relationship based on distance because you are scared of what might happen. That’s the point: it might happen. There is no guarantee, so take a chance.