Anthony surprised Amber and flew to New York to meet her

 Amber stepped out of the subway and into the vibrant energy of Manhattan. The air buzzed with summer warmth and the sound of street musicians, honking cabs, and people chasing their dreams between towering buildings. She tugged her jacket closer around her shoulders—more out of habit than need—and walked the few blocks to her internship at a media company in SoHo. It had been two weeks since she moved to New York for the summer, and each day felt like a whirlwind of unfamiliar streets and quiet loneliness.

Back in San Diego, Anthony had watched her leave with a brave smile and a heart heavier than he let on. They had talked about it for months—how this was her dream, how she needed this opportunity. But when the gate closed at the airport, it hit him how far she really would be.

They talked every night. Texted during the day. Video called until they both fell asleep. But still, something was missing.

On a Thursday evening, as Amber walked out of the building with her coffee in hand, she checked her phone. A message from Anthony:
“Busy?”

“A little. Just finished up work. Heading back.”

“Cool. Can you do me a favor and look to your left?”

Confused, she glanced to the side—and her heart stopped.

There he was. Standing by the lamppost. In a black hoodie and jeans. A suitcase by his feet and the most familiar, most loving grin she had ever seen.

“Anthony?” she whispered, frozen in place.

“Surprise,” he said, walking toward her.

She ran to him. Her coffee spilled somewhere in the process, but she didn’t care. She threw her arms around him, the shock giving way to a tidal wave of warmth and disbelief.

“You’re here?” she gasped, pulling back to look at him. “You actually flew here?”

“I missed you too much,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “And you said you loved that little bookstore in the West Village. I figured we could check it out together.”

Tears welled in her eyes—happy ones, overwhelmed ones.

He took her hand and kissed it. “I’m here for the weekend. Thought maybe I could finally see the New York version of Amber.”

“You’re insane,” she said, laughing.

“I flew across the country to see the girl I love. If that’s insane, I don’t want to be sane.”

And just like that, in the middle of the busy sidewalk, with the whole city moving around them, Amber and Anthony stood still—together again.

For a moment, New York was just a backdrop. The only thing real was the feeling that some distances don’t matter when someone is worth flying across the sky for.