I scraped the envelope open gently with my nails. Dillon turned to me,"What's that?"

"It's...from Trent.." I cracked. I wasn't sad about it. Matter of fact I'm not sure how I felt about it.
The item I held in my very own hands made everything and every part of my being ache.

I suddenly felt like he was being torn apart from my life all over again.

"Trent?! Really? Lemme see! How is the ol-"

As Dillon reached over my shoulder to grab at the letter, I yanked it away from him frantically. I could feel my eyes prick with tears, and enlarge slightly at looking at my brother.

He looked confused for a second, then refrained from me and backed off. He made sort of a frown at me before turning around toward the TV. Shortly, he found the remote to it and switched it on.

"Let me know how he is," he said as I was already on my way upstairs to my bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_________~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Howdy Darlin'
How be you? You're alright? I hope this gets to ya, what with people using cell phones and what not.
Anyway, I knew you'd appreciate me actually writing to you instead of sending you a text or contacting you on your Facebook, if you still get on that thing haha.

I wanted to tell you I'm doing well. And I apologize for not replying to your last letter sooner. From what they say, you'll get this letter a few hours after I send it! So, that's good.
You've moved into your new house?

I really wish I could be there with you.

We never bought the apartment in town we said we would. I was gonna have the keys made too, darn it!

I'm just kidding Benny babe, I haven't really had time to do anything I've wanted to. They've sent me to some pretty sketchy places. Oh, and you were right, we do get cookies ;)

I don't think I've ever stopped thinking about you Benny.

Being here, out on the lines with the guys, it makes me think about what I'm fighting for. My home, my country, and for you.

I miss you Benny.

Please reply soon, I love getting your letters.

Love, your trooper,
Trent "

I didn't bother to count the tears that fell from my face, my head hurt enough as it was.

"Tr-Tr..ent.." I choked.

I clutched the small paper to my chest, crumpling the edges somewhat. He was okay. Trent was okay.

Me on the other hand, God only knew.

My heart was all kinds of messed up. No one, no how should go through losing someone you love, or thought you loved, watching them be torn away from you, then hear from your first love who was also torn away from you, and you haven't seen in years.

Think of your cat dying, or a puppy, or if you don't have either, pick a hamster or whatever. Now you have a new puppy, but you can't really stop thinking about the first, you loved it. You didn't think you could love anything else. Now this clumsy, big eared puppy comes waddling along and you find yourself falling in love again. After a few bonding games of fetch and cuddling on the couch, you see your old dog run right in the house after they ran away.

What the hell do you do?

That wasn't the best metaphor, but the feelings remain the same.

"Babe.." I ended up whispering to myself. I let the letter go and looked it over once more,"His handwriting got better..." I grinned.

"Benny? Everything okay?" Dillon knocked.

I sighed and for the millionth time, touched the letter in my hand,"Yeah. Trent's okay." I looked up at my brother with a smile.

"Really?" He smiled too and got excited. He didn't even bother to ask and snatched the letter away from me.

My face heated up along with the blood in my veins,"Dillon!!"

"What? I just wanna see!" He grinned and glued his face to the letter all while holding his huge hand in front of my face, stopping me from any further movement towards him.

I really didn't want to, but I clenched my fists and let him scan it. Maybe he wouldn't be a dick and tease me about him. Then again, I'm pretty much always wrong.

"He's doin real good it seems..I'm happy for you Benny," Dillon eased the letter into my hand, pushed my hair back with the tips of his fingers, and proceeded to kiss my forehead, easing the blood rush in my body.

"Me too.." I mumbled. Dillon offered me a tiny shred of a sympathetic smile before leaving me alone in my room. I wanted to hear his footsteps tread down the stairs before I plopped my butt back onto my bed. The letter remained tightly enclosed in my hand. I thought to myself, I'm never throwing this one away, especially. I looked over to my end table, and then focused on a small drawer on the side. Tilting the yellow table lamp, I picked up the intricate key and unlocked the drawer to place the letter with the others where they belonged.

It hurt me a little inside when I realized I had forgotten where my stationary was. It was a faded blue pad of paper; my letter insignia for Trent. And I lost it.

"Shit.." I grumbled before standing up quickly and racing towards my dresser. Soon drawers would be everywhere, clothes would be on top of everything, and you couldn't be able to see my carpet.

------------------------

Niall shook his head,"Babe I got this,"

"Niall, stop being a badass and let me help you up." His girlfriend grabbed a hold of his arm. He looked at her like an older sister would at her brother being obnoxious, which made her smile.

"Fine.." A searing pain went through his head in the front, causing him to wince,"Ow..." He made a hissing sound through his teeth like a territorial snake,"Shit.."

Brittany took him up to the front steps in front of the screen door. She noticed it was slightly ajar, but didnt think anything of it, Niall had intended to fix it after he recovered. "See? Just relax Ni..doctor said all you need is rest."

Niall took this time to be humorous,"And some lovin from my love bunny.." He purred into his lovers ear as he leaned onto her, making her giggle girlishly.

"Don't count on it loverboy.."

She helped Niall onto the steps and stopped at the door. Through the screen she saw a chair from the kitchen had fallen over. Suddenly her chest began pounding and her palms started quivering. It reminded her of the same feeling she had when Niall was attacked.

"N-Ni.."

He noticed it too and held onto her waist tighter. Grimacing after scraping a bruise against the wall while coming further inside, Niall mumbled,"Harry? Where you at mate?"