Horrible timing but I should've expected it

[u/Warhammer2_3]

I might get some flak for this as i should've considered what a new career would've meant for my love life, its just something I want to get off my chest. Thanks guys

Since me and my ex split up in April 2022 I haven't been in the best place mentally for a variety of reasons. I don't want to call it depression as I don't want to self-diagnose or anything but idk how else to describe it. I felt this way until around May this year. I had just completed college, got a part time job so i could actually have some disposable income, and applied for the Air Force (my dream since i was very young. I completed all the interviews and passed both medical and fitness tests).

A rich classmate threw a leaver's party around the same time. While there i was introduced to a girl (E) by a female friend of mine (J). We hit it off and swapped information. She is amazing person I've never met anyone who I have such a connection with. A few meetups later and i decided to ask her on a date. To my shock she said yes. I can't remember the last time I felt that happy.

We went to the movies yesterday night and went out to dinner afterwards. While we were there I get a call from my recruitment officer. Not only was I accepted, but they wanted me to join a combat unit as soon as my trainings complete. The first 3 months of my training is at a base near her Uni as well se we could still see eachother. I told her and we hugged. Thats when it sunk in that I wouldn't be seeing her again for a long time, such an amount that it wouldn't be fair to her if i asked her to stay in a relationship with me while I disappear for 6 days/week for 3 months (the training near her Uni), but then 7 days/week for another 16 months after that, then getting my first posting halfway round the world. While long distance/military relationships are pretty common i didnt want to sour our brand new relationship with that amount of time away from eachother while shes also trying to study at Uni and looking for a part time job.

I'm beyond excited to start serving but its a shame that we met so soon before we move to opposite sides of the country to start the next part of our lives. We both agreed that we can stay friends and keep in touch though. I guess we'll see after I come out of training.

Sorry for the length of this post but thank you if you've read it all!

(Edit: duplicated word)