Adriana wished that Jon was with her to help keep her company. It had been two weeks since he left. It was pretty quiet around the house. Mainly because Adriana's happiness was all gone. Mrs. Germanotta began to worry about Adriana. She would only leave her room for dinner or to shower then retreat right back to her room. Mrs. Germanotta decided to have a heart to heart with Adriana. Mrs. Germanotta knocked on Adriana's door.

"Adriana? Can I come in?"

"It's open."

Mrs. Germanotta saw used tissues on Adriana's nightstand next to her bed. She was holding onto a picture.

Mrs. Germanotta sat beside Adriana.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

Adriana simply shook her head. She continued staring at the picture in her hand.

"What picture is that?" Mrs. Germanotta asked.

Adriana handed her mom the picture. It was of Adriana and Jon during christmas of 1993. Jon was kissing Adriana's cheek while Adriana smiled big into the camera.

"I remember this," Mrs. Germanotta said, smiling. "Jon almost burned the christmas tree down."

Adriana smiled a little.

"I miss him," she said.

"I know. But it'll be okay."

"When we were little, he told me he wanted to make me his wife," Adriana said.

"You two would make a great married couple," Mrs. Germanotta said.

Adriana sighed.

"But he's not here," she said.

"He's here with you in spirit. He wouldn't want you down and moping around. By the way, I have something for you," her mom said.

Mrs. Germanotta reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a letter.

"For you," she said.

Adriana took the letter from her mom. Her face lit up when she saw it was from Jon. He was in Columbus, Georgia at Fort Benning.

Adriana tried her hardest not to tear the envelope completely to shreds to get to the letter. She pulled out the letter and began reading:

Dear Adriana,

These people are putting me through hell here! I've never been so sore in my life! Reminds me of that time you sucker punched me in the ribs hard and left a bruise. Ah, good times. I do like the challenges that though. I can't eat any junk food like I used to though. Boo! I've been thinking about you a lot. I really have. Like I said before, I'll be back soon. Another two months to go and I'll be able to see you again. I miss you so much, Adriana. I long to ran my fingers through your beautiful hair. I even miss combing your hair. Hell, I even miss painting your nails! Hopefully I'll be back in time to see you start college. I want you to be happy. Not sad. For yourself. And for me. I love you, Adriana.

-Jon.

Adriana reread the letter multiple times and held it close to her heart. It was reassuring in a way. This letter did put a little spark into her.

"Feel better?" Mrs. Germanotta said.

"Yes it does. Let's go get some pizza."

Adriana and her mom went out for some pizza. Of course, they did go to the pizza parlor where Jon and Adriana would go for a bite to eat, so it did remind her of good memories. But she kept a positive mindset.

"So, you're commuting?" her mom said. Mrs. Germanotta was concerned about her daughter's schooling.

"Yeah. The college is only twenty minutes away. I can handle this Mom, don't worry," Adriana said.

Adriana and her mom then went shopping afterwards. When Adriana got back home, she realized that she didn't quite feel too well. It couldn't have been the food because she didn't eat anything all day.

She went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She did feel tired before they left. She noticed she had slight dark spots under her eyes. Adriana thought they were just bags under her eyes.

She left the bathroom and went into her room to write her letter to Jon:

Dear Jon,

I'm glad that you're alright. I was completely worried about you. I was relieved to have recieved your letter. After I read it, I felt reassured. I've been trying to hang in there but I'm not used to being away from you. Ten weeks is a lot. These next two months hopefully go by fast so I can see you again. Your dimples and everything. I want to hold you in my arms again. You'll make it through boot camp. You just have to be strong for me. And for yourself. I know you can do it. I know it. Don't ever give up. I'm also put our picture of us during christmas as kids in the envelope. That way you can have something to remember me by. I love you.

-Adriana

Jon had recieved Adriana's letter. He was trying not to tear up when he read it. He took the picture out of the envelope. He saw that it was of them when they were little kids. Jon smiled to himself. He never loved anyone as much as he loved his dear Adriana. He wanted to be with her so bad it was hurting him to realize he had to wait to see her.

The two months then went by fast.

Jon had called Mrs. Germanotta saying that he wanted to surprise Adriana and didn't want them to attend his boot camp graduation.

"Are you sure?" Mrs. Germanotta asked.

"Yes. I am sure. I want to surprise Adriana. How is she doing?" Jon asked.

"She's hanging in there," Mrs. Germanotta said.

Jon was back in Cincinnati and headed home. Everything looked the same. Nothing had changed. Jon headed up to the fourth floor of the apartment building her grew up with Adriana in. He held onto his house key and anxiously opened the door.

Adriana was on the couch. She looked to see who entered into the apartment. Her eyes lit up. She got off of the couch and ran to Jon.

"Jon!" she said.

"I told you I'd return," Jon said.

"Your locks!" Adriana said.

"Yeah. Army hair policy. It's whatever. It'll grow back," Jon said.

"I'm so glad that you're home at last!" Adriana said.

Jon and Adriana went to the bedroom and made love to each other until it was time for dinner.

"So how was it?" Mrs. Germanotta said.

"Well, I now know how to shoot a machine gun and stab someone to death," Jon said.

Adriana smiled.

Same old Jon.

But then she worried about what was going to come next: deployment.

She knew it was inevitable but she was hoping that they wouldn't have to send him anywhere any time soon.

"Are you getting deployed any time soon?" she asked when they were finally alone.

"Maybe," Jon said. "They'll let me know."

"And I thought boot camp was bad," Adriana said.

"I'll make it overseas as well," Jon said. "Hey, let's go to the park while there's still light out."

Jon and Adriana had visited the tree that Jon carved their initials into.

"I'll never get tired of looking at that," Jon said.

"Me neither," Adriana said. "Always and forever."

Soon, Adriana's worst nightmare came.

Jon was being deployed to Iraq for the next year and six months.

Adriana survived ten weeks of not having Jon around.

But an entire 18 months sent her over the edge.

She couldn't focus on her schoolwork like she needed to but she still got it done.

After class, she wanted to head straight up and forget about everything. She was about to enter into her car when someone called out her name.

"Adriana!"

She turned and saw Luke jogging towards her.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey you. How's it going?"

"Everything has been okay," Adriana said.

"Just okay?" Luke said.

"Yeah."

"Where's Jon?" Luke asked.

"He's in Iraq," Adriana said.

"For how long?" Luke asked.

"18 months."

"Wow. That is a long time," Luke said. "Well, I've seen you around campus a lot and I was wondering if you would like to grab a cup of coffee or something some other time."

"You know what, I actually want some right now. Let's head to Starbucks.

Luke ordered their coffee and got them a table.

"I hope you don't think I'm intruding or anything," Luke said.

"No, not at all. As a matter of fact, Jon told me to hang out with some friends and don't dwell on him being gone."

"Good choice of words. I know it may seem hard but you'll get through it," he said.

"I hope so. I just hope nothing bad happens to him," Adriana said.

Adriana was glad to lay her head down on her pillow and call it a day.

A year and six months.

That's all.

She could do it.

Seemed like eternity really, but she could do it. She finally managed to fall asleep.

This particular night she had the strangest dream.

She dreamt that she had recieved a letter from Jon one day. But in this particular letter, something was wrong. He was warning her:

Dear Adriana,

This might be the last letter I send to you. Something's gone bad here. Not sure if I'll make it or not. But if I don't, I just want you to remember that I love you so much. Always remember me. I love you, Adriana.

-Jon.

After she read the letter, she heard a knock on door. She went to answer it.

Two military soldiers stood before her with grim expressions on their faces.

"Ma'am, we are sorry to inform you that your loved one died in combat. He was killed by friendly fire."

Adriana woke up out of the dream in cold sweat. She got out of bed and ran to her mother's bedroom and cried like a baby for the rest of the night.

Author's Note: If anyone needs Kleenex, I'll send some virtually.