Remember this photo?
When I first saw this photo, my then-boyfriend was a Royal Marine on his second tour in Afghanistan.
At that time I’d known him for a couple of years. I was besotted. I was missing him and annoyed by how little he was in touch. I wrote to him often and he wrote to me less often and called when when he could. I was bored without him, I was impatient for a promised holiday on his return. I was 19 and wanted to have fun.
I saw this picture of a woman not much older than me with a husband not much older than mine and in an instant my perspective changed. I knew intellectually it was a dangerous job, but my boyfriend had shielded me from it. I was too naive to realise. I Googled what the marines were up to and read phrases like “heavily engaged”, “Taliban stronghold” etc.
Not for the last time I felt my concerns were frivolous and silly. I felt guilty for complaining to him when he was away. I felt grateful that he listened – by Skype, letter – and didn’t say anything.
Perhaps he appreciated the distraction. But I’m a bit embarrassed by it now.
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