Update!

He did ask her, and she accepted. The second I found out (and to this moment even) I felt a little part of myself crumble in realization that I had in fact lost one of the greatest girls I've had the pleasure of knowing.

I suppose "lost" isn't the correct term, but that is how it felt. Despite being so far apart, I had subconciously held on to some hope that things could always potentially work out, that we could at least enjoy some time together. And when the engagement was confirmed, I felt that hope die.

It's really for the best though. We will continue to be great friends just like always. I kind of like the fact that nothing has ever come between us (as things inevitably do in relationships). She's just the perfect, patient, lovely friend that I can always go to, and who can always come to me without any grudges or walls.

I think that might be the best type of relationship I could ask for. It's rare to have a long term friend with whom you don't have any hard feelings to get in the way of just having someone to talk to. For me she is that friend, and so even though I have to give up knowing her in the romantic sense, I still have what really attracted me to her all along; she's amazing to talk with.