stay in a relationship that has an expiration date?

[Guest_82866275]

So me (24,f) and my partner (26,m) have been together for 4 years. We moved to Australia 2 years ago and from the day we moved I always said I would be returning home after 2 years to continue my career. We are travelling together in a van for the last 4 months and in 4 months time I will be moving home. I have mentioned this countless times and i was under the impression he would be moving home with me (we had this conversation multiple times about where we would live what we would do work wise etc). Recently someone asked us about moving home and my partner dropped a bomb in the middle of the conversation. He said he would be staying in Australia until his visa ended (8 months time, 4 months after I intend to move home) and also try to find sponsorship to try and stay in the country even longer. He has zero intention of moving home. We never discussed this and he just drops the bomb mid conversation. I’m heartbroken and so overwhelmed because now what do I do? Do I stay in the relationship for the next 4 months knowing we have an expiration date or do we part ways now? Why would I stay and continue a relationship with a man who clearly doesn’t see a future for us? 

[tranzcrybe]

Two years in Australia sounds like quite an adventure, but it can also stress a relationship as you learn to depend on each other for emotional intimacy, mutual support, and compassion through the best and worst days as a litmus test for your future together - the base elements of enduring love.

Perhaps this trip has posed questions that are as yet unaddressed:-

• Is your partner's desire to remain in Australia (or not to return home) more important to him than supporting you/your career back home? Is there a reason for this?

• Is your career back home more important to you than your partner such that you would never relinquish for love? How does this affect confidence?

• Has the discussion ever included compromise?

When we start thinking our own thoughts, 'ways' do have a tendency of diverging.