To the one that never left my side.

I've never known a life where I couldn't look to my left and see you, and with each day that ends I find myself dreading tomorrow because it means one less day with you in driving distance. With our time together slowly coming to an end for a couple years at least, there are so many things I want to say to you.

I am so proud of you.

I am so proud to be the little sister of someone as brave as you. All my life you have found ways to make me feel like a total bad ass for being your sister and this is just another one of those things. From the end zone to the frontline, I could never not be proud of all all the things you have done and are going to do in life. I'm proud to watch you make this decision, and to watch all the things you're going to accomplish because of it. Being away from you is going to be hard, but you better believe i'm going to spend all that time bragging about my hero of an older brother.

You're my best friend.

Not only are you my best friend, but you were my first friend. You taught me what it meant to be a friend and to have one I know will never leave my side. You were always there for me, and I know you always will be. You were tough on me when I needed it, and you always covered for me. Thank you for being my shoulder to cry on through all the hard times we faced together growing up. Thank you for being strong enough for the both of us when I couldn't be.

This terrifies me.

I can't pretend that I don't know what this means and deep down it's all I think about. I am absolutely terrified of the possibilities that the world holds for you, a soldier. You're my hero, and my protector and thinking about you not physically being here to be all the things that you are to me is a thought that seems too hard to escape these days. I'm going to miss you more than you know, and every day I will feel an undying sense of fear until you come back. As happy as I am for you, I can't pretend that this doesn't scare me.

I'll pray for you.

Every single day. I've spent my entire life praying for you, and with you, and you being away from me won't change that. You taught me how to pray, and how to talk to God like I talk to you as a best friend. I can only hope that you'll feel me when I pray for you and know that I spend time every day talking to God about you and the safety I hope he grants you.

It's okay to be sad.

While this is going to be hard on all of us, it's going to be the hardest on you. I know how excited you are, and i'm excited for you. Being sad that you're leaving your life and everything you know doesn't have to make you any less excited. This is a huge deal, one that is going to weigh on you more than you'll probably let on. I'm going to love you through it and if you're not sad, that's okay too, i'll be sad enough for the both of us.

Thank you.

Thank you for being the kind of person that is willing to wake up every morning and put their life on the line. Thank you for making me the proudest baby sister out there. Thank you for letting me look up to you all of my life. Thank you for making sure I know that no matter how far away you go, that you will always be by my side. Thank you for being you.

I love you.

You were my first hero, first friend, and first supporter. I owe you my ability to take a hit, and my love of football. I am who I am because of you. You're the voice in my head and my first phone call. I know what you leaving means and while I do my best to come to terms with I need you to know that I am here to love you every day that you are gone. Please, please come home safely. I love you more than words will ever be able to tell you.

Love,

Your baby sister, and biggest fan.