Taylor Swift Imagines Book Three (gxg)

leaving for the army (requested)

You packed the rest of your things into your duffle bag, holding back the tears that blurred your vision while you did so.

The day had come much faster than you wanted it to and it was just a little while until you'd be leaving for the next several months, if not longer.

Serving in the army was something you knew you always wanted to do. Not for the glory, but because you knew the world needed protection, and you weren't afraid to fight for that.

But leaving was never easy. Leaving your family and friends behind, who you said your goodbyes to late last night, wasn't easy. And now Taylor, who has become the biggest part of your life. It was gonna be hard to leave her for such a long period of time, and you knew it wasn't just hard on you.

"Do you have extra clothes? How about your toothbrush? And pictures of your family and... us?" You could hear the sadness in her voice that she had been trying to hide from you. It was getting hard to ignore as the time for you to leave got closer and closer.

"Yeah, I've got it all." You zipped your bag shut and then sat it on the floor. Taylor just nodded her head. She knew that if she tried to speak she'd break and she was trying to be strong for you. After all, she knows this is just as hard, if not harder, on you. And she figured the lump in her throat was nothing compared to the one that you had to have in yours.

You watched as she picked at the polish on her nails. You sat down on the edge of the bed next to her, leaning forward to look at her face. You could see the tears swimming in her eyes and it shattered you. "Tay..." you whispered, voice so soft that it made her burst into tears. You wrapped your arms around her. "I'm gonna miss you so much." She cried, tears seeping through your shirt.

"I'm gonna miss you so much more. But I have to do this..."

She didn't want you to go. She would fall to her knees and beg you to stay if she knew there was even a sliver of a chance of you staying. But you weren't staying. You had an obligation to do your part to protect all the innocent people who needed you.

"I'm gonna come back." You brushed your fingers through her hair, wanting to hold her and have some kind of contact for as long as you could. "Yeah, but not for a while." She knew she was probably sounding selfish but she couldn't help it. She was scared. She was worried about you.

"I know. I'm sorry but I have to do this." She sniffled, tears streaming down her cheeks nonstop.

Suddenly, a car horn honked outside and you knew that was your ride.

"Baby I have to go." She shook her head and clung to you tighter.

"I'm gonna call you every chance that I get." You tried not to cry, but you knew you were close to doing so. Seeing your girlfriend so torn up broke your heart. You knew, deep down, she was proud of you. She always reminded you of that. But it's hard to watch someone leave when you don't know if they'll make it back safely, knowing the danger behind what they do, even if they're doing it for the greater good. You know she's just scared and you can't be upset at her for that.

"Do you promise?" You nodded. "Of course I do. You're gonna be the first person I call when I get the chance." She smiled tearfully and loosened her grip on you. "Please promise me that you'll stay safe. Just... try. For me, please."

It was a difficult promise to keep. But still, you did. For her. "I promise."

She leaned in, lips barely brushing over yours before the car horn was heard once again. You kissed her fully, needing one more taste of her lips before you leave for so long.

"I love you." You stood up and she grabbed your bag, hooking it over your shoulder as she followed you down the stairs.

You kissed her one last time and shared a few more 'I love you's' before you had to go. And as soon as you were in the car and the door was closed, you broke down, unable to hold it in any longer.

Taylor closed the door behind her and went straight upstairs where she grabbed your sweater and sat down on the bed, crying herself to sleep as she held onto one of the only things she has of you with her for the next few months.

She could only hope they'd fly by and you'd come home safely. Soon.