Lost And Found

Part Six

You sat in your room for hours reading Bucky's letter. He loves you. He loves you and misses you and wants to be with you. For the last three months, you hoped he felt the same, you dreamed. But now that he's confirmed it, you're more confused than ever.

What do you do? Do you quit your job, give up the thought of ever going back to school and abandon your family? Or do you stay working minimum wage, fighting with your father constantly and walk away from the only man you've ever loved?

Not that you have a lot going on for you right now. All you did was go to work and take online classes. Technically you can get a job and go to school anywhere. Anywhere he is.

But could you really do it? Could you really pack up and leave? Traveling from place to place, constantly looking over your shoulder. You did always want to travel, you think, laughing at your own dumb joke before sighing.

If you stay, you'll never see Bucky again, that much you know. You love him, but will you ever love another the same way? Love like that comes along once in a lifetime...

You mull it over for three days before approaching your mom.

"Mom? Can I talk to you about something?" you ask her softly.

"Of course dear." she says, muting the tv.

You glance at the dining room where your father sits drinking a beer. "Outside" you whisper.

She nods and stands up, leading the way.

"Are you alright?" she asks, concerned.

You take a deep breath and reach into your back pocket, handing her the folded up card stock. She opens it up and reads it quickly before clearing her throat. She folds it back up and hands it to you.

"So you heard from him then?" she asks, trying to keep a neutral face but you can see the ways her eyes light up in excitement.

"Yeah." you answer, wringing your hands nervously. "I just...I don't know what to do."

"Well what do you want to do?" Diane asks you.

You shrug, "Just wanna be with him."

"Then be with him honey."

"It's not that easy." you counter. "I can't just pack up and go! What about you? And Ethan!"

"I trust you'd be able to call us every once in a while." your mother says before grabbing your hands to stop them from fidgeting, "What are you really afraid of?"

"What if he didn't mean it? What if he doesn't want me to go to him? What if...what if that was him indirectly saying goodbye?"

You look absolutely horrified when your mother starts laughing at you.

"Is that the scenario you've been making up in that mind of yours?" she asks with a chuckle.

"Sweetie, he's putting his fate in your hands. Says so right there, 'you might hand this over to the police'. It means the ball is in your court. Either you turn this into the police and lead them right to him, or you go be with him."

"It's not that easy." you shake your head.

"Of course it is! This is your chance to be with the man you love. You might never get another."

"What if it doesn't work out?" you ask softly.

"Then you can always come home. But you'll never know unless you try. Do you really wanna spend the rest of your life wondering what could've been?"

You shake your head no and your mother smiles warmly at you.

"Get some rest honey. You don't have to decide anything tonight."