I Am a Military Best Friend

I am a military best friend. I hold no formal recognition with the powers that be. I am below the bottom of the chain. I hold no military ID card but instead only pictures of the one I love; I am not a "dependent" or a parent, I'm not even a girlfriend. My best friend may face unspeakable dangers that remain out of my control, and I am at the mercy of those who possess this recognition for news. I have come to understand and accept this.

I am a military best friend. He has chosen to serve our country and protect our freedoms, and I proud as can be have promised to stand by him. I have promised to be here for him upon his return, however many times he may leave and once again return and any length of time he may be away. I am not insane; I hold the promise and the love of friendship in my heart and I have faith in God that he will bring him home safe to me and his family. I know that our friendship fuels him in the hardest of times and keeps him going on with his duties.

I am a military best friend. I have nothing to symbolize our commitment as friends, though I love him no less for it. I hope every day that I will hear from him, because a simple text, Facebook message, or minute phone call can bring a variety of emotions. I can smile with tears in my eyes from so much joy and pain and anguish, our relationship is based on a brief communication where "I miss you, I love you best friend, and I'm okay" speaks more than volumes and more than anyone else could compare nor understand.

I am a military best friend. I know that I cannot take any moment spent together for granted so I hold onto every second. I rely on pictures and the memory of his smell, the feel of his skin, and the sound of his voice to keep me going. They run through my mind over and over so that I will not forget. I cry myself to sleep sometimes because missing him hurts so badly but I wake up the next day and once again put my faith in God that he will keep my best friend safe.

I am a military best friend. The events of the next several months hold my life, my love, and my future in the balance. When you watch the news reports, you may turn away and go about your business relatively unaffected but when I watch the new stories of the war I do not see nameless soldiers half a world away. No I see individuals and their families and friends who will be forever changed by war. News of every casualty causes me physical pain and deep sadness in fear that he could one day be on that list of names.

I am a military best friend; not a spouse, family member, or even girlfriend but when you say your prayers for the wives and girlfriends, and the mothers and fathers, please don't forget about me.