Excerpt:

I buried my face in his chest and sobbed, breathing in the comforting scent of his cologne, the cologne he has worn everyday since I started dating him three years ago.

My voice was muffled by his shirt when I whispered, "Please don't go..."

Reece wrapped his arms around me and rocked me slowly and sweetly, making my heart clench.

I mentally sighed, "Even after three years...my heart still jumps whenever he touches me after three years..."

A fresh wave of tears fell when he kissed the top of my head and whispered, "I'm sorry, love, but I have to do this. You know I have to do this."

I did know. I wish I didn't but I did know. I knew that he had to escape the demons from his past, the ones that had threatened to ruin our relationship for so long.

But it still hurt. It hurt like hell.

He reluctantly pulled away and shouldered his bag and picked up his bulky suitcase in his left hand.

I moved almost unconsciously, grabbing his vacant hand, the familiar rough calloused palm comforting me.

Reece looked at me painfully before taking a deep breath,

"Madison, I love you, but I have to break up with you. It has nothing to do with you, but it has everything to do with me. I'm going to be a Marine, and I may not come home. And because I love you, I could not in my good mind leave you here waiting for someone who may never come back."

I stared at him blankly, unfeeling. He kissed my forehead head, then pulled away, whispering, " Goodbye."

It sounded so final I wanted to bawl and give up on everything and everyone. I didn't want it to be final, I wanted him to love me, hold me, stay with me.

Reece gave me one last look full of pain, worry, and love. I tried to grab every bit of love shining in his eyes and store it to my memory.

After he got on the bus and drove away, leaving me in a cloud of exhaust and heartbreak, was when I crumpled to the ground and let my tears silently fall, leaving trails on my cheeks and scars on my heart.