Adriana had lost a couple of pounds during the duration of Jon's deployment from stressing so much about Jon and even made herself sick in the process. Fortunately, nothing happened to him and he was coming home in the next week, but she was still bothered by her dream. She tried to push it to the back of her mind.

"Adriana, you're not hungry?" her mother asked.

"Not really. I'll just eat an apple."

What Adriana really went to do was cry alone in her room.

She tried her hardest to maintain a positive mindset but nothing worked. No matter how many times Jon kept telling her to go and live life, she just couldn't function knowing that he was on the other side of the world, amongst the most evil people in the world despite him coming home soon. He didn't tell her how long he actually planned to stay in the Army which worried her even more. Adriana thought that Jon would probably get deployed as soon as he got back home.

The more she stressed out, the more weight she would lose. She was starting to look way slimmer than she used to. Adriana's mom was getting worried.

"Adriana, what's the matter?" her mom asked.

She had went to check on Adriana and saw that she had a gloom look on her face.

"It's that dream I had. It's bothering me," she said.

"It was just a terrible nightmare, alright? Jon will be back home in no time."

Luke did keep Adriana some company here and there while Adriana waited for Jon to return. Luke couldn't stand to see Adriana sad and moping all the time. On the inside he did start to get a little furious. He was mad at the fact that Jon would up and leave her for so long. Yeah, the military wasn't easy and millions of people are in the military, but still. Luke began to think that Jon had inadvertly hurtAdriana emotionally because of his long abscence despite coming home soon.

"What are you going to do if he doesn't come back?" Luke asked Adriana one day. "Not trying to be rude, but what if he doesn't? I mean, I know for a fact that you won't be able to take it. It'll be too hard for you."

"I know," Adriana. "But I still love him you know? He'll be home soon. I still have some hope left."

"Well, if you ever need anything, I'm here for you," Luke said.

"Thank you," Adriana said.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon. Adriana had went through the mail and saw that Jon had written her. For the first time, she didn't open the letter to see what he had written. Her mind didn't even flash back to the terrible dream she had. Jon would be home in a few days anyway. Once she saw his face, she could finally be at peace again.

It was nice and cool in the apartment. Adriana layed down in her bed and saw her teddy bear, Mr. Woodsman on her dresser. She got up and grabbed the teddy and sat it on her nightstand, where she also had put Jon's letter.

"Everything will be just fine, Mr. Woodsman. Don't worry."

If only that were true.

Adriana drifted off to sleep. It seemed like she was asleep for only five minutes when someone was shaking her awake.

"Adriana! Wake up!" her mom said.

Adriana looked into her mom's eyes. Her mom was crying.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"It's Jon," Mrs. Germanotta said.

"What about him? What happened?" Adriana said.

Mrs. Germanotta fell dead silent.

"Mom...what happened?" Adriana asked again.

"He's gone," Mrs. Germanotta said. "He was killed by friendly gunfire."

Adriana stared at her mom as if she spoke to her in a different language.

"What do you mean...gone? No, I don't believe you!"

"Adriana, Jon's gone!"

"STOP LYING TO ME!" Adriana screamed.

"I AM NOT LYING TO YOU. I NEVER HAVE. JON IS DEAD ADRIANA!"

Adriana got up and slipped on her shoes. Without thinking she grabbed the letter on her nightstand and stormed out.

"Adriana, where are you going!?" Mrs. Germanotta called after her.

But Adriana had already left the apartment. She walked all the way to the park. She walked to her and Jon's tree and sat under it. She looked at the letter in her hand.

It read:

To Adriana

From Jon

She opened the letter.

And what she saw she couldn't believe:

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.

She crumbled the letter in her hand and lost it.

"No..no no no no no no no no no no no!" Adriana said.

She was crying uncontrollably.

"Why?" she sobbed.

She brought her legs to her chest and cried and cried.

She then felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Adriana," Mrs. Germanotta said. "Come on. Pull yourself together."

Mrs. Germanotta helped Adriana to her feet. Adriana cried into the shoulder of her mother.

"He's gone," Adriana said. "He can't be gone. He can't be!"

"He is, Adriana. He's in a better place now," Mrs. Germanotta said.

She brought Adriana back home.

Adriana had cried every tear out of her eye. But she was hurt. Broken. Beyong devastated.

She had went into the kitchen, grabbed some some dishes, and starting throwing them on the ground.

She then went into to the knife drawer and pulled out a knife. She was about to slash her wrists with it until her mom yanked the knife away from her.

"Don't!"

Adriana broke down crying once again.

Mrs. Germanotta grabbed her daughter and held her close.

"Jon's in a better place now. He wouldn't want you doing this to yourself."

"I loved him so much, Mom! And he's gone!"

"It's all apart of life sweety."

"I'm going to miss him so much!"

"Me too, baby girl. Me too."

Adriana tried to adjust to life without Jon. There was no funeral because she was told that after Jon was killed enemy forces somehow got ahold of his body and disposed of it. So, there was no way the Army would send Jon back in a casket.

Adriana couldn't do anything but look at pictures of Jon. That's all she had to remember him by.

The pictures, the memories, the gifts, and the American burial flag that was sent to her sometime later from the military were all remnants of Jon.

Adriana didn't know what to do without Jon by her side. He was gone forever. And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.

Author's Note: Okay, once again I tried not to cry while typing this! ;_; But my advice to you to is to keep reading the story. :D And I'll still send more Kleenex your way.

P.S. Sorry if the last part triggered anything. _ It was unintentional!