To California

     After MCT, Hunter was shipped to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He spent almost two months there actually getting to drive the enormous 7-ton trucks and bullet proof Humvees. This wasn't so bad. He was not that far away and we would Facetime every night after texting all day. "I can take this" I thought. On Friday July 10, 2015 Hunter was assigned his permanent station. We had been hoping for Camp Lejuene since it was only seven hours away, but we were far off. Hunter was assigned to 29 Palms, California. When he called and broke that news to me my heart sank. I somehow knew that this would ruin everything, but for Hunter I stayed positive and supportive just like I had been for the past six months.
     A month later on August 10 Hunter flew from Missouri to his new home in California in the middle of the Mojave Desert; 3,000 miles away from me and a three-hour time difference. Now he had a whole new life ahead of him. He had new responsibilities, friends, and a new place to call home. He had days saved up and was able to fly home for Labor Day and stay home for a week. I loved every minute of it and cherished every second. On September 14 he flew back and little did I know that was the last time I will ever be able to wrap my arms around Hunter Lane and tell him that I loved him.
   Everybody had been telling me that bootcamp changes people, that it turns boys into men. I didn't believe it would change my sweet, tender-hearted Hunter though. When time went on I realized this change in him, we fought more and disagreed on everything. I kept telling myself that it was just because I hadn't seen him in so long and that we needed to be together. At times I didn't even recognize him. I would think to myself, "Is this the Hunter I've been with for almost two years?" I blamed California everyday for ruining my perfect relationship that I had with him.
     In Half a year Hunter ended up Halfway around the world. Even though it was tough, this whole journey that started on January 26, 2015 was an experience I will never forget or ever take back. The whole relationship was something that I will always hold on to. Through all the fighting and the losing of trust I never stopped supporting and loving Hunter or even now that it is all over.