He always figured he'd return before the year was up. First of all he'd wait three months, but that came and went. He knew it wouldn't be a good idea to go back just yet in case it ruined things that his friends on the kibbutz were trying to do to arrange a visa for him. At last he gave in to the reality that it wouldn't be until the following August before he would be seeing all his old friends again. Accepting this helped him face his own anxieties about having to stay such a long time in England, much more than he was used to.
It was hard at first, gradually settling down into a regular routine. But more than anything he missed everything and everyone on the kibbutz. His heart was still there. The more time he was away from his loved one, the more his love for her grew. One of the things that kept him going throughout his hardship was the fact she'd be there upon his return. It didn't matter if nothing worked out between them, at least she was a real friend. But he was always hoping for something more. He had to hope, he'd fade away into oblivion if not. It often seemed to be like a dream - the time he'd spent there, but the letters proved otherwise.

He had this idea that maybe it could be good for him to be living his life like this right now. Maybe he was supposed to learn something from all of this. It helped him look at things from a different viewpoint and put his thoughts into their proper place. He'd once read somewhere that it was possible to grow through suffering. Maybe it was true. Maybe he'd be a different person the next time he set foot on the kibbutz. Only one thing would remain the same; his love for the girl he'd left so long ago. He'd find his heart whenever he returned. He knew that. It made everything else seem insignificant. He had a plan. There was light at the end of the tunnel and he was heading straight for it.