July 26, 2011.

2 years.

2 years ago today was the last time I saw his face. 2 years ago today was the last time he held me in his arms. 2 years ago today was the last time I kissed his lips. Standing there in the airport, was the worst day of my life. He held me in his arms as I bawled, dreading the days to come. He was leaving, and I may never see him again. He had proposed 2 days before. He left on my birthday. To the violent country of Iraq.

July 26, 2011

10:27 am

"WAKEY,WAKEY!" Cat screamed while jumping up and down on my bed.

"Uhh, Cat. Please. 5 more minutes!" I moaned while rubbing my eyes.

"NO! WHY SLEEP IN WHEN IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" Cat screamed then giggled.

I sat up and Cat finally stopped jumping, and plopped herself down on my bed.

There was silence while we waited for the bed to stop shaking. "21 years" I said reminiscing on the past weeks build up to my birthday.

"You're legal!" Cat exclaimed.

I chuckled at how excited Cat was over my birthday. But part of me was still missing. My better half. There was an awkward silence.

"He's coming back" Cat read my mind. "I promise you. He is."

I twisted my engagement ring around my left ring finger. "When?" I said looking up at her.

She thought for a minute. "Im don't know." She said understandingly. "But I can say that I know he is"

Another awkward silence. Then..."JADE! WATCH!" Cat scooted herself backwards on the bed, then started whipping her red hair, which was pulled up into an extremely high ponytail, back and forth. "Hahaha!" She giggled uncontrollably for about 5 minutes. "Come On! It's time for birthday breakfast!" Cat grabbed me by me arm and pulled me out of the guest room, and pulled me down the steps of her apartment into her kitchen.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY JADE!" Everyone exclaimed. Andre, Tori, and Robbie were all there in their pajama's surrounding the table full of food. There were pancakes, waffles, bacon, fruit. And anything you could possibly think of. "Let's dig in!" Andre said putting a fist in the air. Everyone laughed and sat around the tables. We ate, chatted, and reminisced on old memories, then they started giving me presents. "Okay, here's the last one for now!" Cat handed me an envelope. I read it silently and then read it out loud.

Dear Jade,

21 years. My girl is growing up. I miss you more than words can describe! I miss the way you would try to pick up a fight over the simplest things. I miss you yelling at Tori. I miss you telling Cat to stop talking so much. I miss holding you in my arms when you had a bad day. I miss you're beautiful smile. I miss your sparking blue eyes. I miss everything about you. Whether you're reading this on your birthday or not, I love you. No ocean can separate us from each other. Happy Birthday. I love you.

Love you,

Beck

I chocked when I read his name, but pulled myself together. "That was really sweet" Tori said while dabbing the bottom of her eye. I put the letter back in the envelope and held it close to my heart. Cat swallowed her last bite of her waffle and then spoke. "Okay! Our nail appointment is at 1:30, then we are gonna come back here and get ready for the best birthday dinner ever and I am gonna do your makeup and Tori's gonna do your hair!"

"Sounds good to me!"

July 26,2011

7:30pm

Andre opened the door for me and grabbed my hand and helped me out.

"Thank you, Gentlemen!" I said.

"Anytime" He walked over to do the same for Tori, and then Cat and Robbie got out of the car next to us. "Im so excited!" Cat ran over to us. We walked inside, and got our reservations, and then sat down at out table. The table was decorated with confetti and there was a huge happy birthday balloon tied to my seat, and for a while I was having fun and not worrying about my baby. The food was absolutely amazing! I tried a couple drinks but not enough to get me tipsy or anything. My friends have done so much to make my birthday amazing. And they definitely accomplished it!

"Guys, thank you! This is definitely the best birthday ever!" I thanked them. "But wait there's one more present!" Cat assured me.

"Oh! Okay...where is it?" I asked confused because I didn't see any other presents on the table.

"Right there." She pointed behind me, and before I could turn around to see what it was a pair of hands covered my eyes. I uncovered them and looked to see who it was. The flood gates opened up and I jumped out of my seat.

"Oh my god, BECK!" I jumped into his arms, and he held me tighter then anyone ever has. I heard the entire restaurant start clapping. Beck set me down so I was standing on my feet, but his tight grip around me never loosened. I have never sobbed so hard in my life. I cried tears of joy into his chest and he rubbed my head. I pulled away so I was looking into his eyes and saw that the tears had fallen from his eyes to. "Happy Birthday baby girl" he said while tucking my hair behind my ear. I smiled. "Im never leaving you for that long ever again"

"You're not going back?"

"Im not going back!"he reassured me.

"I love you so much!" I said and then rapped my arms around his neck as our lips locked. We stayed there for about 30 seconds when I felt his hand lay on my cheek. I pulled away, stood on my tip toes(since he was so much taller then me), and buried my face into his neck, and started crying tears of joy again, and I felt his strong arms wrap around me again.

"We have a wedding to plan." He whispered into my ear