I am 16 and go to Community college. This Community College also happens to be a military college. As my first quarter of my sophomore year actually at the school, I took basic classes. Little did I know back in August that the cadet in my 10:30am, who has the goofiest smile, would end up making me melt.

Anyways, we’ve been talking for about 2 and a half months and have become really close. When he gets weekends off or time in the evening, he drives 30 minutes to see me and then 30 minutes back. He is so kind and understanding and he’s just amazing (which makes me so happy because this is the first actual healthy relationship I’ve ever been in (which makes me break into my happy dance)).

The only issue is; he is originally from New Jersey....

It’s his second year here, which also happens to be his last. As our quarter came to an end today, he gave me a hug and a kiss on the forehead and “just one last hug for the road”.

He left for the airport at 1 and its currently 2:30 and I haven’t stopped crying since I left school.

I’m so happy he is going to see his family, he hasn’t been home since March, but I am so sad he left and that I won’t get to see him until the end of the month. I know that is extremely selfish but I need help on how to deal with a long distance relationship as he is going into the army full time after he graduates and trips back to New Jersey will go by quickly but deployments won’t. I want to be with him so badly and trust me, I am willing to wait, but I cannot sob every time that he leaves. I don’t want him to feel guilty when he leaves because I cannot come before his job (he says that I’m more important, but he has to always answer his call to work which I totally understand.)

However, today when he left, I just could not control myself as I got into my car. I don’t know why I was crying so much, I’ve never cried over someone like this. I am so happy he is going home, I don’t know why I started crying because he was leaving. All I know is I cried and did a mono toned “ahhhhhhh” for the 30 minute drive I had back home.

I need help from Military Wives/girlfriends and people who are in long distance relationships. How do I do this? How do I cope with long periods of time where we don’t get to see each other? Thank you for any help!!