Foundation of Love

The excitement of college life began to wear off as the realities of their new lives set in. The distance between Lily and Ash started to take a toll on their relationship. Their calls became less frequent, and when they did talk, the conversations were often strained and filled with misunderstandings.

One evening, after a particularly exhausting day, Lily found herself frustrated by Ash's apparent lack of enthusiasm. "I feel like we're drifting apart, Ash," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Ash sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, Lily. It's just... there's so much going on here, and I'm trying to keep up with everything."

"But what about us?" Lily asked, tears welling up in her eyes. "Are we just going to let this fall apart?"

"I don't want that," Ash replied, his voice cracking. "I love you, Lily. We'll find a way to make this work."

But even as they reassured each other, the cracks in their foundation were becoming more apparent, threatening to crumble the love they had worked so hard to build.