It was december 1st, which only meant one thing; Ian had officially been away for a year. January 1st, earlier this year he was shipped off, taken away from here, from me. We all knew for months that he was leaving, but that sure as hell didn't make it any easier to say goodbye. If anything, it just made it worse. It made everyday, every occasion seem like the last.
It was hard as hell to let him go, and I just wanted to beg him not to go, to stay with me. To stay with me and live our lives together, but I knew he would say yes. I couldn't do that to him. Joining was his dream for years, to finally enlist. He's always wanted to become a soldier and be a hero. How the hell could I make him give up his dream for me?
We've talked, mostly written letters back and forth, talking about our lives. He would say how training is going, and how he's training some of the newbies. I would talk about how working at the shop has been, and I would talk about how his family are. I don't talk to them as much as he'd like, but I can't help it that they aren't big fans of me.
They don't hate me, not really. I think it just came out as a surprise to everyone that we were together. I just don't think they've gotten over the initial shock, even though it has been well over a year.
We even talked on the phone several times, which was a gift in itself. Hearing his voice was like listening to angels, and every time I heard his voice it sounded more beautiful than the last.
As I was walking down the street, I closed my eyes for just a second and I could hear his voice. His soothing I love you and my heart bent in hurt that I couldn't hear him in person.
You'll see him again I had to keep reminding myself, because fuck, sometimes it felt like I was never going to see him again.
As I was walking to our apartment, I saw that the mailman was putting stuff in the mailbox. I got excited, knowing that there was going to be a note from Ian. I walked faster until I went up to the mailbox and opened it. I was going to go through it all, but something wet and cold hit the back of my neck.
"What the fuck!" I yelled, looking back and saw something I wasn't expecting.
Two small kids, their eyes looking like they were going to fall out of their sockets.
The smaller one spoke "were sorry Mr, we really didn't mean to hit ya."
"Well if you two fucks we actually paying attention around you you wouldn't have." My hand held the cold spot on my neck.
"Sorry." They both muttered.
I sighed loudly. "Ugh, it's fine."
"Really?" the small one asked.
"Yeah, yeah, no harm done, it's fine." I said "just,be careful next time." And then turned around and walked into the building. As I was walking up, I could hear them jumping away, laughing. It almost made me feel happy, but then it just made me kind of sad.
Once I got into the apartment, I put my jacket on the counter and looked at the mail. There wasn't much, a few bills. But then I saw the letter with that hand writing that makes me go crazy.
I ripped it open carefully, but what I saw I wasn't expecting.
Usually, his letters are pages full of writing, describing everything that has happened in his life recently, but not this one.

Mickey,
25
I

That's it. That was all of it.
"What the fuck, Gallagher?" I said outloud.
I didn't know what it meant then, but it went like that for days. Weeks.
Everyday, I got a new letter. All similar, but never the same.

December 2nd
Mickey,
24
L

December 3rd
Mickey,
23
o

December 4th
Mickey,
22,
v

December 5th
Mickey,
21
e

December 6th
Mickey,
20
Y

December 7th
Mickey,
19
O
P.s. I know you miss me.

December 7th, a week after this all started was when his 'letters' finally had something written. And damn was he right. Jackass

December 8th
Mickey,
18
U

December 9th
Mickey,
17
S

December 10th
Mickey,
16
O

December 11th
Mickey,
15
M

December 12th
Mickey,
14
U

December 13th
Mickey,
13
C
December 14th
Mickey,
12
H

December 15th
Mickey,
11
W

December 16th
Mickey,
10
I

December 17th
Mickey,
9
l

December 18th
Mickey,
8
l

December 19t
Mickey,
7
Y

December 20th
Mickey,
6
o

December 21st
Mickey
5
U
December 22nd
Mickey,
4
.

December 23rd
Mickey
3
.

December 24th
Mickey,
2
.
P.s. go to our spot tomorrow.

I never got mailed a the 25th card.
Of course, I knew what was going to happen, but maybe I didn't't. Maybe I just didn't want it to happen because I thought It was too good to be true. But still, on december 25th, I went to out spot. The roof of some old rundown building, but instead of it looking dark and lonely, it was lit up with lights.
It still looked like a damn old abandoned building, but it looked so beautiful.
Lights surrounded the walls, there was music playing in the background. It was snowing outside too, which just made the whole thing too magical.
I look around, and i see a small tree on the floor. It was maybe two feet tall, small enough to carry without any trouble. It was lit and decorated like a big one. And There was piece of paper underneath it, so I walked over.For some reasons, my heart was pounding, and I could barely breathe.
But it was all in a good way.
It was a letter, the kind I knew all too well, so I opened it slowly underneath my shaky fingers.

Mickey,
Turn around

When I turned around I couldn't hide the smile that was on my face.
There he was. My beautiful Ian.
I ran upto him and hugged him like I haven't seen him in a million years, which it damn near felt that way.
Tears trickled down his face, and mine as well. We stayed there, hugging for I don't even know how long. But then finally we had to let go.
When we did we locked eyes, not saying anything. Instead, he gave me another, and I knew that he wanted me to open it.

Dear Mickey,
1
Marry me?

I look up to Ian on one knee with a box in his hand. I didn't even look at the ring before I fell to the ground and was hugging me. He hugged me back, tightly.
"Is that a yes?" Ian laughed.
"Yes, you firecrotch." I laughed back, tears falling down, and I let them.
He put the ring on my finger, and we looked at eachother, before I lovingly placed my lips onto his.
Then our foreheads touched, just wanted to feel each other, to know that we were there. "Merry Christmas, Mickey." He whispered, but I could hear perfectly.
"Merry Christmas, Ian."
This was the best christmas Gift I could ask for. And ever since then, we have never let each other go.