Taylor strung up a set of lights around the Christmas tree. She jumped off of the ladder and stood back to look at all her hard work. “Wow Tay, you outdid yourself this year.” Her best friend Abigail said, stuffing a gingerbread cookie in her mouth. “I wanted it to be perfect. You think he’ll like it?” Abigail nodded. “Joe will love it. He’ll need some pretty things to look at.” Taylor fixed an ornament and smiled. “I can’t believe he’s home for Christmas.” Joe had been off overseas fighting for their country. He had been gone now for 1 year and 4 months and Taylor was ready for him to come home. She had had a rough 16 months without him, some days were better than others. The first month he had left all she remembered was staying up thinking and praying for him to be safe. Taylor would randomly feel helpless that she couldn’t be by his side and protect him. But that was all changing now. “I should get going, you want me to come when you pick him up tomorrow?” Abigail asked as she gathered her belongings. “I think I can handle it. I’ll see you though.” Taylor hugged Abigail as she left the condo. They said their goodbyes and Taylor closed her door. She sat down on her couch and watched her kitten climb into her lap. “Daddy’s coming home Meredith!” Her kitten meowed. Taylor smiled. Her television was on but all she thought of was the day Joe had left. 

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Taylor woke up to her alarm clock going off. She slammed it shut and stretched. She felt the other side of the bed was empty. She sat up and looked at were Joe was supposed to be, instead of Joe there was a letter. Taylor unfolded it and read it. 

Dear Taylor, 

I didn’t want to wake you up from your sleep. I’m probably on my flight to Iraq by the time you wake up, but if you got up early, my flight leaves at 7:30. Taylor I love you with everything I have. I’ll be home before you know it. I love you so much.

Joe

Taylor’s eyes had swell up with tears. She looked at her clock, it was 7:25. She had time right? She jumped out of her bed and didn’t bother to clean herself up. She ran downstairs and grabbed her keys. She ran to her car and was off towards the airport. When she got there it was 7:30. Still time, she thought. He could still be getting a security check right? Taylor dashed into the airport, running around trying to find Joe. She tried to look it up on the monitors but couldn’t remember what flight he was on. Her heart raced as she sped up the escalator. She jammed her way between people and luggage. Taylor ran to a man dressed in an Army uniform. “Excuse me, but do you know anybody named Joe Jonas?” The man furrowed his brow then smiled. “Ah, Jonas! Yes, he had a little problem with security and we can’t leave without him. He should be over there.” He pointed to a crowded area of the airport. “Good luck trying to find him.” He yelled as Taylor dashed through the crowd. “Joe, JOE!” She was yelling his name. She made her way to the front of the crowd to see Joe beginning to go through the gates towards the plane. “JOE!” She cried out. Joe turned around and smiled. He dropped his things and they ran towards each other. He picked her up as he kissed her. They didn’t let go of each other even when they pulled away. “I thought you were sleeping in.” Joe chuckled. “I wasn’t going to let you go without me saying goodbye to you.” Taylor had tears in her eyes. “Please come home to me, okay. I need you in my life Joe, promise.” Joe kissed her forehead. “I promise. I love you Tay.” Joe let Taylor go and picked up his things. “Jonas, let’s go.” A man yelled at Joe. “Coming.” Joe kissed Taylor one last time. “I love you.” Joe whispered to her. Taylor nodded. “I love you too.” And with that, Joe turned around and left. Taylor waited until she couldn’t see him anymore to leave. By that time the crowd had dispersed. Taylor had never felt so alone in her life before.

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Taylor woke the next morning ecstatic. She danced around her house as she got ready for Joe’s arrival. It was still pretty early so she had time to lounge around. She turned the television on to the news. Her T.V. began flashing bright colors and an announcer had a very serious tone. “This morning we are just learning of a plane carrying hundreds of our troops has had an emergency landing. The plane was supposed to land here in the next hour or so had a engine meltdown and we are now learning that there are many injured. Everyone has been called to the scene to asses the damage. We will cover the story as it unfolds.” Taylor’s heart sank. This couldn’t be happening, this was supposed to be a happy occasion. It was so close to Christmas and everything. Joe was supposed to come home. She didn’t know what to do. She continued to watch the screen. It flashed images of the site and of the soldiers running off of the plane. The camera now panned to a group of men standing there, coughing. Taylor tried her best to see if any of them were Joe. Her heart raced. She wanted to be there. She grabbed her keys and her coat. She didn’t know where she was going, but she had to go somewhere.