Context: My wife went out of the country for school for 2 months at the beginning of the summer.  Dropping her off at the airport was really hard.
Speaker 1: My wife went out of the country for a couple months at the beginning of the summer, dropping her off at the airport was really tough.
Speaker 2: It must have been! Have you guys been apart before?
Speaker 1: Not for more than a few days.  It's been a rough couple months, but it's almost over!
Speaker 2: Ah so you've gone through it a couple of months alrready. How much longer is she going to be away for?