Joe

 She told me his name was Joe. She didn't share her name with me though. She is sobbing uncontrollably, her sobs echoe, almost as if you can feel them move through you. I ask her what is wrong and she tells me she is mourning for Joe. 

Before she met Joe, she had been very promiscuous and never had a serious or loving relationship. She had three children, all from different fathers, none who wanted to remain part of their lives. Her life was hard. She was a single mother, working long hours to make ends meet. 

She was working as a waitress or server at Penn State University. She had a rough morning with her most reliable sitter unable to make it, her car got a flat tire on her way into work and she was late. Today was not a day she should be late because she was working in the "military wing". (I am not sure if this exists at Penn State but this what the dream said.) She was told this was an important event and they needed her to perform to the best of her ability. And she was late. 

As she got to the banquet/seminar room, it was already super busy. A lot of demands for refills, napkins, silverware. As she went from table to table serving and tending to the needs of the people there, she saw one man who was drawing funny faces on his notepad. She was smiling without realizing it and he looked up at her and laughed. He told her he loved to doodle, especially funny faces and most especially when he was super bored. They had an instant connection.

They began dating and found themselves quickly in love with one another. He had a way of helping her relax and she felt safe and appreciated for the first time in her life. He even loved her children and treated them as his own. 

I'm not sure how much time they spent together, that wasn't clear,  but it was at least months, but maybe years. They were engaged with plans to get married. He received orders that he was to be deployed and