CHAPTER 2

END FLASHBACK

Since then, Danny had talked to Ethan on a weekly basis. Sure there were times she wished she could simply talk to Ethan without any interruptions; but she wasn't complaining. One by one, the letters started coming in, most of them coming out of order; forcing Ethan to put a date on them. Danny loved seeing Ethan's letters in the mail. She'd rush home from work and run to the mailbox, anxious to see what Ethan had to say. Whenever she'd get a letter, she would curl up in bed with a glass of wine and read it out loud. It was soothing in a way, and she quickly found herself enjoying it.

The first letter she'd received came in the mail February 28th. She'd run into the house, poured herself a glass of wine and snuggled up in bed. Danny gave the letter a once-over and carefully opened it. She saw that Ethan had written on a couple pieces of notebook paper. The entry was dated February 25th, 2014. She thumbed through the pages and began reading out loud.

Dear Danny,

Oh man, where to start, so much has been going on here. I've had P.T. ever since I arrived, the food is terrible, and I miss you so much. I wish I was there with you, in our bed, just the two of us. I can't exactly say (for confidential reasons) where I am; but just know that I'm in Afghanistan. It's so amazing how these third-world countries thrive in the world. It's so sad, and I thought we had it bad. I love you so much babe. I can't wait to hold you in my arms again; see you when I get home.

Love,

Eth

Danny skimmed over the letter once more and carefully placed it in her nightstand drawer. She looked at the time; it was 9 o'clock p.m. Danny walked into the kitchen, downed the remnants of her wine and placed the glass in the sink. She walked back into the bedroom, pulled out the letter and a few sheets of paper and began to write.

Ethan,

I'm glad you made it there safe and sound. Not much has been going on here. Since you left, the house has been quiet, too quiet and it scares the hell outta me. I miss waking up to the sound of your voice in the morning, I miss your smile, your eyes; damn, I miss you so much bae. I'm trying my best to keep busy to take my mind off things, but I'm failing miserably in the process. I'm so proud of you Ethan, always remember that. Be safe; I need my soldier to return home in one piece. I love you.

Danny

With that, Danny folded the letter and sealed it in an envelope. She put a stamp in the corner and wrote down the return address. She'd be sure to put the letter in the mailbox tomorrow so it could be on its way. Danny got up and walked into the bathroom. She grabbed a towel and turned on the shower, letting the water get warm. She turned around and looked at herself in the mirror. It felt so empty without Ethan. Fighting back the tears, Danny removed her clothes and hit the shower, letting the water run down her face as soap suds swirled down the drain. Once she was clean, she cut off the shower and slid back the door, stepping onto the rug to dry off.

Out of nowhere, a wave of nausea hit Danny like a blow to the face. She barely made it to the toilet when she vomited. She hovered there for a minute trying to catch her breath. When she did, she stood up, flushed the toilet, and looked in the mirror. 'What the hell was that all about,' she wondered. 'Maybe it's just the flu; I have been feeling a little under the weather lately.' Shrugging her shoulders, Danny dismissed the thought and turned on the tap. She despised the nasty taste she got after vomiting; it was like soap in the mouth. She wet her toothbrush, applied some toothpaste and brushed her teeth; eventually walking back into the bedroom. Danny put on a pair of boxers and one of Ethan's t-shirts. She loved Ethan's scent; it seemed to permeate the whole room. Once she was comfortable, she climbed into bed and cut off the lights; slowly drifting off to sleep.