Official Description: From the moment they first met, he was always leaving her. In a moment of crisis, Bella reflects on her life and marriage to an Army man. An entry for the “For the Love of Jasper” contest.
Word Count: 19,684

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I had the pleasure of being one of the first people to read CherBella‘s “Leaving Her.” It was an entry for the “For the Love of Jasper” contest last year, and although it wasn’t one of mine to validate, I read it anyway because it was a Jasper / Bella story. Not only did I (and contest co-host LaViePastiche) love it, but so did our judges: it was selected for our Judges’ Selection Round by both judges who read it during the first round of reading, and it ultimately scored well across all judges in the final round and went on to win a Judges’ Mention.

What about it did we all love? Well, for me, it started with the beginning….

Leaving…he was always leaving.

He had always been married to the corps, she was really only his mistress. He was only hers whenever the Army didn’t need him…a weekend here and there, occasionally an entire week…if she was really lucky she’d get a month or two or three. Sometimes that was worse though. Just when she’d get used to having him around, to waking up next to his warm body–the army would call him back into their clutches and she would be alone again in a cold empty bed.

She should have expected it though–from the moment they first met, he was always leaving her.

I am a vocal fan of drama, angst, heartfail, and any combination of the above. An opening line about Jasper always leaving, followed by hints of a distressed Bella? Sign me up.

Jasper and Bella meet on a double date that is notable for the fact that they are on the date with other people: Bella with Edward, Jasper with Angela. Jasper and Bella hit it off so well that even though they try to pay attention to their own dates throughout the night, when the evening ends, Edward gives Jasper Bella’s number because he “knew he didn’t have a chance anymore.” Jasper is a West Point cadet and Bella is attending college in New York City, and their relationship very quickly develops regardless of their demanding schedules and lives. From very early on, Bella is aware that she is competing with the Army for Jasper’s devotion, and years later, she many times wonders if she should have pursued things with him, knowing that his career would always be a top priority for him.

One of the running themes through the story—a thread that pulls the entire story together, really—is that Jasper writes her a note every time he has to leave. He starts the morning after their very first night together, and it quickly turns into a tradition—one that keeps Bella going when she really misses him and struggles with his constant absence. It is after one particularly bad argument and a morning that he leaves for an assignment but doesn’t leave a note that Bella really starts to question if she can survive the military lifestyle.

The story is not told linearly, and CherBella does a great job weaving together bits of the past and present, and giving us details about their lives when they first got together and what it’s like for Bella when Jasper is deployed. It all flows very well and helps build the emotional tension of the story, which is sharp and painful, and comes to a head when something happens on the mission for which Jasper departed without writing a note.

Six months after the contest ended, CherBella posted a second chapter, which is presented from Jasper’s point of view, and it is as moving as the original one-shot. In addition to getting just enough information about Jasper’s side of things from the first chapter, we also move forward into new territory. A loose-end of sorts from the first chapter is addressed, and Jasper’s memories of the past are well-blended with present time. While the original one-shot stands alone well, the addition of Jasper’s voice gives us some perspective, lets us hear the other side of the story—as difficult as Jasper’s repeated departures were for Bella, they were equally hard for Jasper, who found himself torn between his two great loves, with no good solution for how to balance them satisfactorily—and adds that extra layer of depth that readers who loved the first chapter are likely to appreciate.

“Leaving Her” is a story of sacrifice, perseverance, and the lesson that while love isn’t perfect, if it is strong, it can help you through even the most difficult times.

Cherbella is without a doubt an amazing writer, Leaving Her just proves that.

The emotions that these two go through are so real, so raw…

Years later Bella often though of that moment and wondered if she had been too impulsive that day by letting her heart completely make her decision without really thinking things through with her head. She felt awful every time for thinking such a thought–whatever feelings Bella had about their life together over the years, she could never say she ever felt unloved. And her intense, burning love for Jasper never changed either…but life married to a soldier was grueling and lonely and frustrating. And sometimes she didn’t know if she wanted it anymore.

She’s without a doubt captured what most women married to men in uniforms have been through, including me. This is an absolutely beautiful story, you don’t want to miss out.

He stood up from the restaurant booth to shake her hand, that killer, sexy lazy grin stretching across his face, his blue eyes twinkling. His blonde hair was shorn close to his head in the typical military buzz cut, and his body was definitely that of a lean, well-conditioned soldier. His t-shirt stretched taut across his chest and his well-defined biceps were barely contained by the small shirtsleeves. Add in the Texas accent (“yes ma’am” “sugar” and “darlin’”) and Bella was a goner. Jasper was as well, apparently. They had a hard time keeping their eyes off of each other, goofy smiles on their faces all night.

CherBella didn’t waste any time getting to that tasty description of my favorite soldier, so I didn’t want to either. If that wasn’t enough to convince you to read this wonderful 2-chapter fic, let me see what else I can do.

When Bella meets Jasper, he is heavily entrenched in his life at West Point, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Of course, Bella turned the tables on him, making him want more from his life than just to serve his country in the military. There are visits to see Bella in New York City, and as the story develops, many other times that force Jasper to constantly leave her. With each parting, Bella finds a note from her love – her last tangible piece of him until he returns to her.

My sweet, sweet baby,

Since the day we met, we have spent so much time apart and you have sacrificed so much to be with me, to love me. My heart literally broke in two last night, seeing you in tears and in pain because of me and my choice of a career in the Army. I know am a greedy, selfish man because I want you both, but I promise my darlin’ that it won’t always be this way and I will spend every moment of my life making up to you for all of the tears and worry and loneliness you must endure on my behalf.

Obviously, there are challenges they face, and that is a very important part of the story. When Bella and Jasper have a fight and he leaves without a note in his wake, Bella’s world is shaken. Will he make it home to her? Is there marriage all right if he does? You’ll just have to read to find out!