person A: My wife went out of the country for a couple months at the beginning of the summer_comma_ dropping her off at the airport was really tough.
person B: It must have been! Have you guys been apart before?
person A: Not for more than a few days.  It's been a rough couple months_comma_ but it's almost over!
person B: Ah so you've gone through it a couple of months alrready. How much longer is she going to be away for?