I met Rosy in Sep. '96. I was just a freshman and she was a junior. We were in a club together, but separate schools. I hadn't had much luck with girls, and my shyness didn't help, either. I started to get more comfortable with the ladies as we talked. On our lunch break one day, I stood in front of Rosy as she tied her shoe. She was on one knee, so I asked if she was proposing. She proceeded to grab a straw wrapper and tie it on my left ring finger. We were now unofficially engaged; I would be the bride, as she would be my groom.

As the next year-and-a-half went by, April '98, she had a wedding project to do in school. She had to plan the entire thing; budgets and all, as well as recording a mock wedding. It was the last day we would probably see each other for a while, because it was our club's last meeting, so we decided to "get married," unofficially of course. Rosy's boyfriend wasn't too pleased that she was marrying me, so he didn't attend. They'd only been going out for a little over a year, at this point. I had pulled the straw wrapper out of my wallet and put it on. Unfortunately, when someone else saw this, she ripped it off my hand. I was pretty upset.

Rosy had graduated a few months later. We didn't see each other very much over the next few months, nor did we talk much. We were talking on the phone one night in December '98. She was still dating Scott, but she didn't feel for him the way she used to. Out of the blue, I decided to go by her college dorm and stay the night. I hopped on a few buses and was over there in about 45 minutes. We talked for a few hours and went to sleep. She had to get up early for work.
We didn't get much sleep before her alarm went off. About 2 weeks later, she told me she had broken up with Scott not long after I stayed with her that night. I never told her to break up with him, even though I really wanted her to. She was at her house this night, January 1, 1999. She was home alone, so we decided that I should come over and stay the night.

Once again, we talked all night. We even mentioned that we liked each other. However, I didn't tell her how I actually felt. I knew I loved her for a couple of months, now. I thought it would be a good idea, considering what we've been talking about, to ask her out. At approximately 5:45 am, I did. She let out a little giggle and I said, "I'll just take that as a 'yes.' Bad idea on my part.

We didn't talk much over the next 2-and-a-half months, but when I did get a hold of her, March 21, 1999, I thought it would be best to "let her go." I had gotten a tip-off from a friend of hers, "You know, she didn't really say 'yes.'" And I knew she was right. Because we weren't actually dating, I didn't have to "get over it." I had realized that we probably weren't meant for each other. A few days later, I had asked this girl out. I don't know if she was a rebound or not. We dated for 2 months, when my feelings for her bottomed out. I was upset about it, too.

I started hanging out with a new group of friends. Every weekend we all went out. It was a given. We never made plans, we just went out. I started realizing that I liked Monique, but I didn't want to ruin a good friendship; I already knew what that was like. Sometime in September '99, I got a phone call. It was Rosy! I was so excited. She asked if I wanted to go out for some mini-golf and ice cream. Even though I was "supposed to" go out with my other friends (it was Friday), I needed to see Rosy again. Four of us went out that night; the other 2 were her sister and her sister's boyfriend. I remember hearing the New Radical's "Someday We'll Know" on the radio. It was quite appropriate.

Two days later, Monique and I had our first kiss, well; make-out session is more like it. A month later, October '99, I asked her out. We dated for 8 months. I didn't talk to Rosy again until May 2000. She came to my HS graduation party. I had broken up with Monique 2 weeks later. Once again, my feelings bottomed out.

June 18, 2000. It was my going-away party. I was going into the United States Air Force. Once again, Rosy came, when she was leaving, she was crying so hard, but I couldn't understand why. When we hugged, I told her, "I don't care to hear it back, but I want you to know how I feel. I love you." She replied with, "I love you too. it just took me longer to realize it." Then she left. I had made a decision not to visit anyone the next day and just get done what I needed to get done. That would have been my last day home. But I changed my mind. Rosy was the only one getting a visit by me on June 19. We unofficially started dating that night. We stared at each other for about an hour, scared to do anything. Then we had our very first kiss. It was so full of passion. I thought I'd lost her. I'm glad I was mistaken.

In Basic Training, I wrote her letters more often than anyone. I talked to her longer than anyone else, when I could. My Dad had already gotten my family's plane tickets and hotel reservations to come see me when I graduated. I had all this money, but nothing to spend it on, so I sent him two blank checks: one for Rosy's plane tickets and one for her accommodations. He got a hold of her and she made her plans. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to hold hands, let alone kiss, but at least I got to see her. That was August '00.

After Basic, I went to tech-school, where I learned to do my job. I was allowed to use the phone as I pleased, so Rosy and I talked all the time. She told me she was coming down in October for her birthday and she had already had the lane tickets. After we hung up, I went and booked the hotel room. I could have gotten into so much trouble for staying out that weekend, but it would have been worth it.

When she came down, that first night we talked and kissed a lot. Our kissing session started to get a little heated, but I was afraid to do anything because in the last 4 years, I hadn't known her that way. All I knew was that she wasn't a virgin, but I was. She got me to be a little more comfortable, but I was still scared. The next day, things got a little more heated, but we didn't go "all the way." Later that evening, we decided it was time. We made love for the first time. I couldn't think of anyone else more deserving of my virginity. In her words, it's the best birthday gift she'd ever gotten. She left that Sunday.

I didn't see her for the next 2 months. I got to be home for Christmas and New Year's. I was allowed to go home, again, in February. The 2nd marks our official anniversary. Since then, we still don't see each other much. I've been moved to California and she's still in Illinois. When I go home, it's to see her, and she only wants to use her vacation days to see me.

Between poems and songs I've written, and our romantic visits, we know we're truly meant to be together. No distance can break the love we share. Half a nation can't even keep our love apart.