Bittersweet Homecoming

(Circa December 2006)

Two weeks before Christmas Afia heard the chime of the door but was busy counting pills to pay attention to the next customer. "One second," she called out.

"Afia."

His voice made her heart leap. She looked up and saw her best friend, his blond hair in a buzz cut, covered in a camouflage jacket and pants, brown boots and holding a black duffle bag, a soft smile on his face.

"Connor!" she shrieked. If she could have she would have jumped over the long counter to get to him, but instead she ran around and jumped in his arms, and he instinctively dropped his bag and caught her.

Connor breathed a sigh of relief. Just like last time, Afia's face was the only face he was eager to see. He held onto her tightly as she wrapped her arms and legs around him, her small frame being swallowed by his. He felt her breathe into his neck and take in his scent, and he found himself doing the same to her hair. Time should have stopped right then and there so he could hold onto her forever, but eventually she slipped her legs down and he gently let her go.

Afia held onto him and caressed his face. "You're home," she said softly.

He smiled back. "Yeah, I'm home, for good."

While his smile was bright it did not reach his eyes and she noticed. They were clouded and a bit hooded, like he had been holding back for a long time. "You didn't write me back so I didn't know when you were coming home," she said.

He shrugged. "Sorry about that. I just needed to concentrate on finishing some things up and as soon as it was done I just got on the next plane." He smiled at her again. "It's so good to see you, Lovie."

She wanted to ask if he was okay but she knew the answer. After what he had just been through no one would be okay. Instead she lifted up on her toes, kissed his lips softly and said quietly, "I'm so, so sorry, Connor."

His smile faded and his eyes instantly began to glisten. He did a small intake of breath and let it out slowly. "I gotta go. My mom is in the car, she just picked me up from the airport and they're having some kinda family dinner. You want to come?"

Afia remembered she was at work and looked back to see her father watching her intently. She turned back to him. "I can't leave yet, my shift is over at 3pm. But I can stop by later?"

"Yeah, let's plan it. I'll call you when the coast is clear."

"Okay." He gave her another smile. "I missed you."

"Not more than I missed you," she replied. He gave her a genuine wide smile and then kissed her cheek.

He looked up as Mr. Williamson and Amara, Afia's older sister, came around to shake his hand. "Corporal McIntyre, it's good to see you, son," her father said. "Good to have you home. And thank you for your service."

Connor shook his hand and said, "It was an honor, sir."

Amara hugged him tightly. "You look good, Connor. Don't be a stranger, okay? Come over for dinner when you can."

"Oh well, you know I'm not going to say no to that," Connor said a bit smugly, showing a glimpse of his regular self. He turned to give Afia another hug. "I'll call you, okay?"

"Okay," she said. He kissed her cheek again and headed out of the Williamson Family Pharmacy, with one last glance back at his best friend and smiled. She smiled back before he closed the door.

"Afia," her father began to lecture her, but she cut him off.

"I know, Dad. I know. But... Connor needs his friends right now. He needs me. And I'm going to be there for him regardless of how his father feels about it."