After his morning patrol he finally had the opportunity to sit in his tent and relax. It was so hard to be away from his family and friends. Of course, he had made better friends here than he had ever made anywhere, but, nonetheless, he missed home almost more than he could bear.
Finally, with this time he had to relax, he would try to get a letter written to his mom. He would tell her how much he missed her and loved her, and what life was like here. He would talk about how much he wanted to come home and to go eat at a familiar restaurant. But, most of all he would tell her, and all his siblings, how often he thought about them every day.
So, he took up his pen and paper, and as he pressed the tip to the paper, he carefully wrote, Dear Mom, I have been very busy lately and just wanted you to know that I love you and miss you so much. Then, he was interrupted. His platoon sergeant came in and informed him there was a briefing and he needed to come immediately. At the exit of his sergeant, he looked at the words on the paper and nodded his head approvingly. He addressed an envelope and placed the letter inside. He did not know when he would get time to write another word, so he put the letter, all sealed up, into the pocket of his jacket, right over his heart. He left his only sanctuary behind and walked out towards his briefing with one stop on the way. To tell his mom what mattered most in the one line he was able to write.
