It’s time for you to go once again,

As usual I’m not ready,

I just want to hold on to you,

But you say that makes it harder.

I watch and tears slip down my face,

You turn and wave sadly,

My heart breaks all over again,

Knowing you’re leaving me once more.

The time always flies when you’re here,

Making it seem so much shorter,

It’s not fair that you have to go,

I know why you do, but it’s still hard.

I always count the days until you come home,

But I also wonder if you will,

I’m terrified that one time you won’t come back,

At least not in one piece.

Then comes the day I dread,

Two men in dress uniform knock on the door,

I go weak in the knees when I answer,

I know the news they bring is not good.

At the funeral I sob when they give me a folded flag,

Symbolizing your service and love to your country,

I can’t help but feel incredibly alone,

Even surrounded by loving family members.

Without you I am incomplete,

I don’t want to go on,

It seems like I barely knew you,

You were in Iraq for 3 years.

You dodged countless bombs and bullets,

You were on your final tour of duty,

It seems like such a cruel twist of fate,

Like some cosmic joke being played.

As time goes on I realize that it is final,

You really are not coming back home,

And it hurts me to know you wanted to leave,

But I know you loved your country too.

In the end I loved you with all my heart,

You loved me for all my flaws,

And I loved you for yours as well,

And it feels better when they say you died a hero.

Each day the pain grows less and less,

I can go on with my everyday life,

Not breaking down every time I look at your picture,

But knowing the hurt will never quite go away.

Our time together was cut too short,

But I know that one day we will be reunited,

So I live my life,

Waiting to join you in Heaven.