Leaving for Bootcamp

        In December of my junior year of high school I was sitting in class eagerly watching the clock when I got a text from Hunter, my boyfriend for almost a year, that ran chills all down my body. The text said "I just signed with the Marines, I leave in January." I read the text at least ten times before I could comprehend what he was telling me. I finally came to my senses and texted back to figure out more details about this journey he was about to endeavor. He said he was leaving for boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina on January 26th. That was a little over a month from that day.I even threw him a surprise going away party with all his family and friends.

           The days flew by and the big day came. My mom and I traveled to Beckley, West Virgina to the Military Entrance Processing Station, MEPS for short, to send him off. I walked into the silent building on the dreary, snowy day only to be checked head to toe by security guards. Like I was going to try to sneak something in to a Military Base. I felt the whole time like he was going to prison, and then I thought prison couldn't be as bad as thirteen weeks of intense training and torture. I sat in the waiting room surrounded by young kids sitting silently with looks of terror on their faces holding bibles, because that is all they could take from home. I waited patiently while he was in medical having one last checkup and signing of the last paperwork that officially gave the United States Marine Corps the next four years of his life.

          When he finished he came and sat down next to me and I knew that was the last few minutes I had with him before he was gone for thirteen weeks. Then a man came out of a little room and screamed "All going to Parris Island, let's go!" He got up and walked over to the man giving them a ticket then back to me. I was holding back as many tears as I could as he hugged me. The man yelled again and he boarded his van and was gone.

        He still had a phone on his trip to South Carolina so he texted me all day. Then late that night I got my last text saying "I'm here. I'll write as soon as possible..... I love you" Then he was gone.