Dear David,

You were my first love, and my only boyfriend all through school. We were inseparable as we laughed at things no one else understood. We traced “I love you” on each others palms during class and planned for our getaway to Hawaii. I guess everyone thought we would marry one day. We thought so too.

I’ll never forget the morning we camped outside the newspaper office to get the first look at the early edition. We prayed not to find your name on the draft list, but our prayers were not answered. I cried the day you left and promised to write every day. Since you couldn’t receive mail for 30 days, you received all of my 30 letters at once.

I know that you remember these things too. But I’ve never gotten to tell you how much I regret not waiting for you. I didn’t mean for things to change, but they did. We were so young and I was stupid. You came home on leave and helped me to move two states away, even though I was leaving you.

I heard later that you had married and had a little girl. Afterwards I heard that you had divorced. I’m sorry for calling you and then hanging up when you answered. I just wanted to hear your voice.

A friend from school called and told me you had cancer. She called again to tell me you had lost your battle. When she sent your obituary, I saw the same sweet face that I had loved so well. You hadn’t changed.

I wish I could have told you how much I admired your strength and courage throughout all of life’s troubles. You were such a gentleman and treated me like your queen. It’s hard to believe that I let you slip away, and now you are gone forever.

I should have waited for you always.

With Love,

Cheryle, age 56