Dear Mitchell,

I hate writing goodbye letters and I don’t know how to start this one. So here goes nothing. I’m going to miss you a lot. More than anything in the world. I don’t want to sound cliché but, you are my world Mitchell. I can’t tell you “I love you” or “Be safe” enough because I don’t know if you're coming back or not. Stay strong for the both of us because I know you can. I am still having trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that you are going to war. At the same time I know this is what you want to do, so I fully support you. Remember even in the chaos that in some way I’ll be there with you. Maybe a picture or even just a thought of me can take your mind off of the craziness there. I won’t leave you out on life back home either. I promise to send as many pictures as I can. Like pictures of the lake and our dog Blazer (he’s going to miss you too.) If you're ever feeling homesick and feel like you need me remember that each night we can look at the same stars in the sky. Even if there are thousands of miles between us. On the tough days, think of last summer when we went to the beach. Let this be your happy place because I will always be there with you. I am so proud of you. Always be proud of yourself no matter what happens. Remember why you joined the Marines: To fight for America’s freedom and help as many people as you can. Be safe and keep the others around you safe. Also be smart and think before you react. I love you so much and your family loves you too.

Love,
Jessie

P.S.Never give up Mitchell. (Also when you get a write me back or call when you get a chance.)
  

Jessie,

I just found your letter in my bag taped to a Snickers Bar. (Thanks by the way. The food here sucks.) I’ve been on the base for a couple of nights and it makes me miss you so much. Honey, I miss you more than all these d--- stars in the sky. The first night I got here all I could do was look at them and want to trade places with one of those lucky stars that gets to shine down on you. Plus I never knew how dusty it would be here. It’s pretty crappy and there always seems to be dust in my eye. Are you having fun at school? I wish I could be there with you and see how the track scholarship is going. Cory’s my bunk mate. He is a real gem. I don’t know how the guy talks so much. I think one day I am just going to duct tape his mouth shut and do everyone here a favor. I told him about you. Just so you know he thinks you’re hot. Then he went off about all the girlfriends he has had over the years (he lost count).I have never met anyone so c***y in my life. Mikey is at the base too. I guess you could say we’re both getting to live out our childhood dream. I have never seen Mikey so happy. (This has even topped the time when he won a Mario Kart game against you.) There is one more thing that makes this place worse: no soda. I have never wanted a soda more in my life. Didn’t think soda would make the list of things I miss but it did.I love you so much and thank you for supporting me through this. Tell everyone I said hi. Remember why I am fighting and how proud I am of you. Got to go, Mikey needs help with something.

Love,
Mitchell

P.S. Good luck at your next meet and give Blazer a bone for me.

Dear Mitchell,

Life is pretty boring without you here with me. I never thought board games with your parents would be this bad, but it is. They are pretty lost without you. All your mom did was stare at me and open her mouth to say something, but then she just smiled. It’s the weirdest thing ever. I will never be doing that again. Your brother wanted to tell you that you owe him ten bucks for something (God knows with him). Thanks for wishing me good luck with track. We have a new coach who is now making us run ten miles a day. It sucks. I am still trying to outrun Cassie. Maybe I will by the end of this session. Just to let you know, the Rangers won the World Series. Which, if you ask me, is a miracle. Cory seems like a jerk. If you get a chance punch him in the face for me. Blazer enjoyed his bone. He is getting so big. (I’ll send a picture soon.) I miss you. You mean the world to me and it’s hard not to have you next to me. There is no more Friday night football games or late night talks with you. At night is when I have the most time to just think about you and I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not. I have so many exams coming up and it’s hard to focus. I spent all tonight writing you this letter. If you could send me a picture that would help a lot. I love you so much and remember how much I need you. I can’t just talk to myself for the rest of my life. Be safe and keep the others around you safe (especially Mikey). I hope the stars are shining brighter tonight. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I love you so much and be safe for me and you.

LOVE,
Jessie

P.S. I hope you enjoy the Pepsi I put in your care package.

Jessie,

I am writing under the stars thinking of you. Well, it’s the night shift and Mikey is on watch right now so I could have a few minutes to myself. War is messing with my head. You kill people to save other people, and the worst part is when you’re too late and the good people die with the bad people. Mikey still acts like it’s still a game though. The game is over for me. I can’t sleep without hearing a gun blazing in my ear (Real or fake). I am running on two hours of sleep because of an attack on base. We lost two of our men: Dex and Mack. The worse part is that it could have been me or Mikey. They were both good men too. I didn’t know Mack that well. He mostly kept to himself, but I wish I knew him. Dex had two little kids at home with his wife. He keep a picture of her in his helmet, like I do of you. After that happened, the game is over and now it’s just life or death. I am just going to hope and pray I get to see you again, Jessie. My deployment is getting pushed a few more months. I don’t know how long. Hopefully only two or three more months. I feel like I need to save more people. Dex and Mack shouldn’t have died. Maybe Mikey and I were on watch this wouldn’t have happened. I wish I could keep writing but my break is up. I love you so much and Jessie? You'll beat Cassie by the end of the session.

LOVE,
Mitchell

P.S. Please don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.

Dear Mitchell,

I love you. It sounded like you needed to hear it. I wish I could come give you a hug and kiss, but sadly, teleportation hasn’t been invented yet, so just imagine it. Tonight I am in my dorm room which smells like a mix of cat food and makeup. I think I found a new girlfriend for Cory: My roommate. She thinks he’s hot from the pictures. By the way, I love the pictures. I never thought I would see you ever giving Mikey a piggy back ride. It’s hanging above my desk and it’s what I get to look at instead of doing homework. It’s almost Thanksgiving. Your mom is letting me have the honor of baking pies with her. Don’t worry, I will buy some pie before I go over because we both know she can’t cook even if her life depended on it. I bet you’re going to miss an eventful holiday. Let’s just hope your dad doesn’t get drunk and start singing like last year. (If he does I promise to record it.) Guess who gets to go Black Friday shopping with your mom: ME!!! She has even broken out her fanny pack for the event. She also bought us matching sweat bands. I am a little scared. There is another care package coming soon and I put something special in there for you. I hope you like it. Remember that there is a plan for everyone baby. Don’t let every little mistake weigh you down. You are in my prayers every night too. The coming home date move, but I will still be waiting for you when you come home. Please don’t give up on yourself because you’re doing great better than I could ever do. Also, get some sleep because if you can’t sleep then I can’t either. Be strong like I know you can and tell the guys on base that I wouldn’t want anyone else fighting overseas for me. I love you so much and miss you to the ends of the Earth.

LOVE,
Jessie

Jessie,

I don’t think any man can explain what combat is like. It’s beyond any words I could come up with. I know the sound of a bullet when it hits a human skull. I can’t get the sound out of my head. I am scared out of my mind right now. More than I have ever been in my life. I have seen things I can’t un-see. Like children screaming and crying from burn wounds and being so scared of me that they run as far as they can because they think I am going to hurt them. Grow men have broken down in front of me. I can’t sleep. The nightmares keep me up at night. I look forward to your letters, Jessie. It’s the one thing that makes me feel like a human being. I was captured by a group a few weeks ago. I don’t want to talk about it and even if I did I’m not allowed to. Cory gets to go home because of his injuries even though he is the idiot that was captured in the first place. Honey please keep writing even if I don’t write back. I need to see your handwriting and pictures. I love hearing about everyday things, like how your roommate smells like cat food. I love you so much and I miss you. I can’t wait for this war to be over. I mean, at some point it has to end. Tell me to keep being strong and brave because it keeps me going. War is hell. Happy you’re not here.

LOVE,
Mitchell

P.S. Please keep praying for me and the other guys. Love you and can’t wait to see you.

Dear Mitchell,

You are the strongest man I will ever know. I pull strength and power from you. I know war is testing your will every single day. Remember, don’t pray for something easy. You have the strength to endure how difficult it can be. Keep your head up and get back out on the battlefield to fight from me if that’s all that will keep you going. You are strong enough to make it through even if you think you can’t. I have faith in you, Baby. You will never give up. The same bull-headed man I know is over there, so stay strong and don’t break for anything. Never forget to keep fighting for me, Mikey, Cory, Dex, and Mack. You can do this. I have faith in you. I love you so much. I would trade my best memory to have you back in my arms. I know there is no other man that could put up with my craziness like you can. You’re the only one for me. I was thinking about our first date the other night and it made me smile. I could never forget the look on my dad’s face as you picked me up in the dirtiest truck I had ever seen. He even had his shotgun in his hand. I was my daddy’s little girl. You brought me the biggest bouquet of flowers I had ever seen. I dropped on the ground right after you gave it to me. I felt so bad. I still think to myself about how you are still with me after that terrible first date. Mitchell, be brave like I know you are. Please never give up and keep fighting no matter what happens. Keep yourself safe and the others around you safe too. I love you so much and I can’t wait to see you in a few months.

LOVE,
Jessie

P.S. Merry Christmas, Baby!

Jessie,

Sorry I haven’t been writing back. I can’t seem to find the time. I have been so busy lately. Now I am hiding under the sheets with a flashlight writing this. I have been on the night shift for the past month so it’s nice to be on a bed for one night. Thanks for writing your letter it really helped. I have been putting my body through so much. I broke a couple of fingers and I think my foot might be broken too but, I haven’t had the time to check. Saved Mikey’s life today. It was more powerful than saving other people's lives. He still mad that I football tackled him into the dirt. He’ll get over it. I feel happy. It is a feeling I have had in a while. I am smiling right now. I found a dog today while doing my rounds. Her name is Daisy (a mutt.) They said I could keep her. She is licking my hand right now. It feels good to have a dog, but I still miss Blazer. I was sitting in my cruiser today and everything seemed to stop. I watched the clouds move in the sky and tonight I am watched the dark shadows move from wall to wall. That’s when it hits me how much I miss you. I want to come home right now and be there with you. I love you so much Honey and I can’t wait to see you again. I promise I will see you again. I will see your blonde hair and bright green eyes look back at me. I will see Blazer run around the yard. Your picture is always with me and I will never lose it. Be strong and never give up on me or yourself.

LOVE,
Mitchell

P.S. Only 2 more months until I’m home.  

Dear Mitchell,

It’s two am and I can’t sleep. Maybe it’s all the school work or the internship, but the wheels in my head won’t stop turning. So I got up from the dorm room (being as careful as I could not to wake cat food lady) and drove. At first I didn’t know where I was going or planning to go. Then it hit me: You’re not here with me. It’s almost like I forgot for a short amount of time why you were gone. I drove all the way to your parent’s lake house. The last place I saw you. The water is quiet. Almost too quiet. No one is here but me. It feels wrong. Not a bad wrong, but a sad one. You should be next to me cracking jokes or pushing me into the water, but you’re not. The trees are swaying back and forth and the stars are shining bright. The stars would be brighter if you were next to me. I think I’m at my breaking point. Yesterday I had a break down. Not about school work or so drama, but it was about you. Pictures were scattered all round the room. I picked them up one by one. Looking at your face, your smile, and your eyes. I put them all in a box and they are sitting next to me now. I thought about throwing them into the lake, but I can’t bring myself to do that. I will probably just put the box back in the car. I’m realizing now that I can’t throw all our memories away. Even if it hurts to not have you here with me. Please come back to me. I need you more than anything else in this world. I have said that so many times in these letters but I finally know that it’s true. I am not the same person without you. I don’t smile the same or laugh the same. I never thought one person could change me so such. Make me happier, help me through rough patches, and most of all make me love myself. I have a bad feeling and I don’t know why. Please just make it out alive. I am just going to stand and look at the water now. Think about you and me. I miss you so please come home soon. The bed is full of empty sheets and I need you to come back. I love you so much and be safe.
LOVE,
Jessie

Jessie,

I can’t wait to come home. Only three more weeks. I have gotten a little more sleep. The care package came in the mail today. Thanks! Honey I need …
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“Green, Grab your gun!”

       I grabbed the barrel and ran outside. What was going on?
BOOM!!!

       My body flew through the air and hit the ground hard. The impact made it hard to get up. Everything hurt. Screams quickly filled my head as I struggled to my feet. The smoke started to clear and I saw a man. His turban was as black as his eyes, I knew what I had to do. I reached for my gun, but I was too slow. Pain ripped through my shoulder. I grabbed my gun and shot. The bullet hit the man’s chest. More bullets rang out, and I shot more off. Then I felt a stabbing pain in my leg. I turned and shot. The man went down.

“Mitchell!” a man cried out

       It was John. Mikey was on the ground completely still.

“This can’t be happening. Not Mikey.” I thought to myself.
      
       I rushed over took a few more shots, and then helped John up to the best of my ability and slung Mikey over my good shoulder. More shots were fired.

“Green, It’s over!” someone called out to me.

I stood in shock for a moment. Maybe it was just relief.  Then another sharp pain in my back I collapsed on top of John and Mikey. Soon, the smoke cleared and it was over.  

“Green! Green, Are you ok?”

I choked out the only words I could think.

“Do I look ok to you?”

The edges of my eyesight faded to black and a pair of bright green eyes looked back at me. I smiled.

Jessie.