Coming home

Going of to war

The day the letter arrived it was a joyful day until dad opened up that letter I wish that I could go back in time and get that letter before he got his letter opening knife and break the seal on the envelope. He got out the letter out and read word by word line by line page by page although quite young I knew what it said, he'd already been to Afghanistan twice since my ninth birthday ( I'm 14 now ) to serve 2 months and then the second time he served 6 months, nearly every year he missed my birthday my ninth birthday was the last time I saw my dad. He turned his head to look at me I smiled but knew what he was going to say, he summoned me to him and pointed to his knee and he lifted me up. He finally put me back down he looked at me with his big chestnut brown eyes but they looked puffy like he was going to crying he spoke softly like any other day but something about his voice that wasn't right "Astra daddy has to go away for a little while okay he'll be back soon okay" he had fear in his eyes as he spoke and with a tense voice as he told me "but daddy for how long it's my birthday tomorrow will you be here" "yes sweetie I'll be here until then I've got leave tomorrow night" "don't forget to say goodbye daddy will you" "sure will astroid" as he threw me up in the air and caught me. Then next day was the best and worst day of my life, I knew it was my birthday and I was having fun with my family and friends but there was always that little bit in my mind that snapped me back to reality my dad was going away and I couldn't stop him even if I tried. It was 6 o'clock and we was having cake and I over heard my dad talking to my mom and I wished that I didn't hear what I heard "Lucy it's nearly time for me to leave do you think we should take Astra I did promise I would say goodbye to her" "yeah I think we should it will give her time to except your going away, we better go and get ready to go" "ok love, Astra it's time to go darling say good bye to your cousins and aunties and uncles and don't forget grandpa and grandma alright love" he looked like he was ready to faint but mom knew so she acted as a support barrier for him so he could get to his feet and stumble over. Could I let go to a man that meant the most to me for a long time.