But after one month of this intense long-distance arrangement, the commitment hit a devastating wall.
On one Saturday, Rosa visited Tommy in LA and met him in their regular hotel room. She delivered the crushing news to him: she couldn't leave her job in San Diego; she couldn't move to LA.
Hearing the unexpected news, Tommy was startled; he felt betrayed. As much as he loved and longed for her, he could never tolerate the breaking of a promise, especially one that had been made so explicitly and surely.
He knew he wasn't perfect; he also had broken promises in his life. Yet, somehow, this particular case, Rosa's retraction of the commitment to move, left him feeling wounded and deeply, irrationally betrayed.
The inevitable confrontation began with Tommy's bitter accusation: "I thought you said you were going to move here," he grumbled.
Rosa's voice was filled with sad finality: "I know. But I really can't leave this job, babe," she replied, choosing her professional stability over the promise she had made for their future.
Tommy didn't explode; his response was the quiet sound of a man who realized the cycle of pain could never truly end. "I don't know, Rosa," he murmured, his voice hollowed out by betrayal and resignation.
"Babe..." she pleaded, trying to use the familiar term of endearment to bridge the distance that was now emotionally absolute.
His next reaction was seemingly unusual, a loud silence. He didn't say another word, but instead, he got physically close to her, initiating their familiar ritual of intense physical intimacy.