It was the loneliness. That was what was taking away her happiness, her joy. The loneliness closing in on her like some dark void, stealing from her, her life, her mind, her heart. It was like a murderous nothing. The darkness surrounding her, choking her, killing her.

It was his fault, while at the same time, not. She had known that she would be alone. She had known that he wouldn't, couldn't be there. It was impossible. He had led this life when they had met. He had warned her when they went on their first date. He had reminded her, on that day of days when nothing could bring her down, that there would be times when he just couldn't be there.

He had given her his name. He had given her his life. She had willingly accepted both, despite the fact that she would be alone. She loved him, there was no way for her to get around that. She would gladly endure the days when he couldn't be there, so that she had rights to bask in the glow of the days that they could spend together. To her, the days alone were well worth the moments that they could be together, happy.

She kept those memories close to her heart, when all she had of him were his daily calls, when she heard the sound of his voice, and the visions of him on the television, that she watched religiously and repeatedly. The memories kept her going. Kept her moving and living for the days that they could be happy and content in each others arms.

She couldn't fault him, as much as some say she should. She couldn't do that to him. She loved him. And he wouldn't be who he was if he was forced to choose between his love for her, and the love he held for his dreams. His dreams were important to him, so therefore they were important to her. Because of that, and because she wanted him to always be happy, she was content to wait for him. She also knew that it wouldn't last forever, as much as she hoped it did.

There would come a time when it would be over, he would be home, and they would be together forever. She wanted that. She wouldn't deny it. He wanted it too she knew that. But at the same time, they wanted it to last forever. A long running, never-ending dream. If his dream were to last for years and years to come, there would be a time when it would be just the two of them. And that thought, too, kept her going.

Despite the obstacles in their relationship, they loved each other. That would get them through. She could hear it in the shakiness of his voice when he said his final good night to her after every show. She could see it in his smile when he talked about her on television. She could see it in his eyes when they were together.

Of course, those were things that kept her going in her mind and partly in her heart. What really kept her going in her heart, was the miniature image she saw of him everyday when she woke up, and the smaller version of him that kept her days occupied. She could see him in the smaller one's eyes, his smile, his face, his hair, his voice, his walk, his existence. He was the light of her life, and of his father's. The little one was what kept her life meaningful while she was away from her love.

Her love for the man was reason enough to keep faith in their shared life. But the child, he was what gave her a life, and love when the man couldn't be there. The child was the physical and spiritual representation of the love shared between the parents. That was what kept her going, in mind, body and soul.

"Mommy, when is daddy coming home?" The smaller voice, identical yet higher in pitch than his father's, asked, eyes identical to the older versions looking up at her expectantly, filled with hope.

"Right now baby." She told her son, looking up and smiling at the radiant man walking towards them in the busy airport.

"Daddy!" the small boy cried, running towards the tall man only yards from them. He was immediately scooped into a large and tearful hug.

"I missed you, Little Man. You been taking care of Mommy?"

"Uh huh. And she's been taking care of me, too."

"I know. Because she loves you, just like I love you." The older man said to the small child in his arms, only his eyes portraying his emotions.

"I love you too, Daddy." The child said, holding tightly to his father's neck, as they continued their never faltering course towards her.

"I love you." He whispered in her ear, when he enveloped her in a hug that felt so good she knew she must be in heaven.

"I love you, too, Joe." She whispered back, their happy tears watering the love that would last them a lifetime.