"You what?" Charlie asked, sitting up in bed.

"I applied before we met. I never thought I'd get in but... I did."

"But... where? How?"

"I don't know yet. It's all about playing the waiting game now. I could be placed in a month. Or six months from now."

"It's just... wow. And how long would you be gone?"

"Nine months. A year. It's all just... it's new to me too."

Charlie lay back down, his head spinning. "But... we just found each other."

"That's why I'm asking: will you go with me?"

"I'm about to get tenure, Ben. I don't know if I could leave it behind."

"You could write, like you wanted to when you were a kid. I don't know where I'd end up. Africa, Asia, who knows. It's something I've always wanted to do, but... I don't know if I could lose you."

Charlie thought about a promise to himself he made years ago: he'd move out of Boystown by the time he turned thirty. Now, with his thirtieth birthday looming in a couple of months, laying next to the man he loved who was proposing a major life change and adventure... he didn't know what to do.

"Just promise me... you'll think about it. Don't say no. Just think about it."

Charlie turned and faced him. "Ok."

"Promise?"

"Yeah," Charlie said, kissing him. "Promise."

###