In November of 2010 I moved in with Curtis (http://teethoftar.tumblr.com/) and his family. My parents and younger brother, Thomas, had moved to South Carolina the summer of that year and the apartment I was living in wasn’t really working out. Curt’s family graciously invited me into their home.
It was a big step for us, we had only been dating about six months and we were going to be living together. I was nervous, I don’t really know how he felt about it, but we were both very excited for our new adventure. I remember my first night there, everything sort of felt complete. It felt right.
Although I love Curtis’ family just as much as I love my own, I deeply missed my parents and my little brother. I went to SC a few times to visit and while I was there I missed Curtis and my friends so much. I was so torn between the two places. I was with my family on Thanksgiving, but I was not with them Christmas of 2010 or of 2011. Christmas day of both years was an emotional roller coaster. I was so happy that I got to spend it with Curtis, my amazing friends, and Curt’s family. But at the same time, I ached for my family at home.
Curtis and I talked it over in November and December of 2011 and we both decided that it would be best for me to be with my family. He would be leaving in March for bootcamp. (He joined the Navy!) So, even if I were to stay in TX he wouldn’t be there. I still wasn’t thrilled though, because I didn’t want to leave my friends.
On January 15, 2012, Curtis and I began our drive to SC. It was a lot of fun. We spent the night in Birmingham, Alabama, more than half way to our destination. It was a very fun and emotional night. I couldn’t stop thinking that that night would be the last time we would sleep in the same bed together until I saw him again months later.
We got to my parent’s home in SC on the 16th and Curtis was able to stay for awhile until he flew back to Texas.
The drive to the airport on the 22nd was heart wrenching. I didn’t want to let go of his hand on the way there. I was shaking as he hugged my mom and brother good bye. Then it was my turn. I could hardly even see him from the water in my eyes. Our good bye felt so rushed, as most things do at the airport. I couldn’t stop hugging him and burying my head in his shoulder to try and capture the way he smelled and felt in that moment. But we had to break apart and he walked into the airport. I could not stop crying. It felt like a part of me had been torn away.
It’s been three days since he’s been back in Texas but it feels like an eternity. We text constantly and talk on the phone a lot. It’s just not the same though.
I miss how he smells. I miss his arms around me at night. I miss him keeping my feet warm in bed. I miss how his lips feel on mine. I miss his strong hands holding mine. I miss his sarcastic sense of humor. But most of all I miss just being able to sit together and talk and enjoy each other’s company.
I’ll be visiting TX in March and I cannot wait. It’ll be the last time I see Curtis before he leaves for bootcamp. This is good practice though, seeing as how I’ll be a military girlfriend. I know that we can do this. Our friends and family keep telling us that if anyone can do it, it will be us. I think they’re right.
I love you, sweetheart.
