Deployment

It 9 o'clock in the morning when I left for work. I got in my car and turned the ignition on. I waited a few minutes for it to warm up and then started heading to work. It was at the first red light I hit on Nut Tree Parkway when i caught a glimpse of a picture sticking out of my glove compartment. I leaned and grabbed it. It was a picture of my marine and I. We looked so happy together. It made me smile and reminded me of the day we took that picture.

The light turned green so I started driving again. After about three signal lights, I hit another red light. When my car stopped, I grabbed the picture once again and stared at those beautiful green eyes. "I miss him so much," I mumbled. That's when the tears started to run down my cheeks. I started thinking about the day I had to say goodbye to him for the second time around.

I was standing there staring at him and putting off goodbye. I didn't want to. I wanted him to stay home and not leave me. I knew I wasn't going to see him for another 7 months and I was scared. Scared of being alone. Scared of the fact that I might never see him again. All of these things were running in my mind.

He grabbed me and hugged me for God knows how long. That's when I started to cry. I couldn't believe that he was leaving. I held on to him as tight as I can, not wanting to let go. We were hugging each other for a few minutes when he said he had to go. That very moment broke my heart into a million pieces. I didn't know what to think and what to say. I wanted to scream and tell him not to leave me, but I knew that wasn't going to do anything. It will only make it harder for him, for the both of us.

So we said our goodbyes and started walking away from each other. I stopped and turned around and watched the love of my life walk away. I didn't leave until I couldn't see him any longer. I stood there for a few minutes and gathered all the strength I had left and started walking towards my car.

Then I heard a honk. The light was green again. I wiped my tears and started driving to work. I put our picture on my dashboard where I can see it.

That's my life, a life of a Marine Wife. It's hard but it is also worth it. It is worth all the sacrifice and hurt and even the broken hearts.