It wasn't until the night before he left that it all really sank in. I hadn't really cried. I didn't really talk about it. Drew didn't really know what my thoughts and feelings were. I had tried my hardest to stay strong. I knew that's what both of us needed. Besides, Drew had stayed strong, so I couldn't be the weak one.
The day before he left, we spent the whole day together. It was surreal to think that this was it. The end of our old life, and a new beginning of an Air Force life. We'd known about this day, and prepared for this day, for months. Yet we still weren't even remotely ready for it.
We did normal Drew and Olivia things. Took walks. Drank iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Watched Breaking Bad. Laughed. Talked. It was a normal day. But in the back of our minds, we knew this was goodbye.
As we laid in bed that last night, we both were silent. It was becoming real. He was leaving. We finally allowed our true emotions to show. He was scared. Nervous about the unknown. I was scared. How could we go 8.5 weeks without seeing each other, talking to each other, or being together? I cried harder than I had ever cried before. We cried until there were no more tears. Until there were no words that needed to be spoken; except "I Love You."
That next morning was even harder. Just waiting for 11:30 to come so we could get in the car and drive to the recruiter's office. That was the longest 5 minute car ride of my life. And then, we hurried up and waited in the office. Two hours of torture. Just waiting for his car to arrive. I don't think I ever let go of his hand.
And then it was time.
Time to say goodbye. Time to see him, hear him, touch him, kiss him for the last time for 8.5 weeks. Time to watch him drive away into the complete unknown.
"I love you." No goodbye. Nothing special. Those three simple words were the only thing we could get out.
And there he went.
Just like that into the Wild Blue Yonder.
The day before he left, we spent the whole day together. It was surreal to think that this was it. The end of our old life, and a new beginning of an Air Force life. We'd known about this day, and prepared for this day, for months. Yet we still weren't even remotely ready for it.
We did normal Drew and Olivia things. Took walks. Drank iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Watched Breaking Bad. Laughed. Talked. It was a normal day. But in the back of our minds, we knew this was goodbye.
As we laid in bed that last night, we both were silent. It was becoming real. He was leaving. We finally allowed our true emotions to show. He was scared. Nervous about the unknown. I was scared. How could we go 8.5 weeks without seeing each other, talking to each other, or being together? I cried harder than I had ever cried before. We cried until there were no more tears. Until there were no words that needed to be spoken; except "I Love You."
That next morning was even harder. Just waiting for 11:30 to come so we could get in the car and drive to the recruiter's office. That was the longest 5 minute car ride of my life. And then, we hurried up and waited in the office. Two hours of torture. Just waiting for his car to arrive. I don't think I ever let go of his hand.
And then it was time.
Time to say goodbye. Time to see him, hear him, touch him, kiss him for the last time for 8.5 weeks. Time to watch him drive away into the complete unknown.
"I love you." No goodbye. Nothing special. Those three simple words were the only thing we could get out.
And there he went.
Just like that into the Wild Blue Yonder.