Only For You

XXXI) Marion- Grounded

I finally found myself on the ground. My tired and achy body sat down on the short bench. As my mind wandered through the utter chaos I was strictly wondering what could come next. Whatever happens we need to defend ourselves. This war is just getting worse and it feels as if I am the only one left to fight. "Hey, Lieutenant Wright." a voice said as I immediately looked up. "Sir, Captain Marelli." I said as he quickly stuck his hand out to shake mine. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked. This was the first half casual conversation I had with someone since Nick. My mind attempted to erase him, but to no avail, it did not work at all.

The wind barely brushed by as the sound of jets blasted off in the distance. "I am alright." I replied back quietly. He stared at my arm that was covered in blood. "What happened there?" I was quite shocked at his inquiry and his compassion. "I caught it on the side of the cockpit panel, yanked it away, and cut myself open on accident by scraping the corner of the metal." I was so shy around him. Marelli's eyes glistened into the sun. He was about six feet tall with dark brunette hair. "I know this is tough and all, but you are doing amazing. I know these officers around here never congratulate you, but I see it. You are in for a real surprise. Hey, we are having a mini gathering session tonight in order to make plans and party a little. Would you be interested in coming with me? Do not worry, I will protect you." His sweet voice smoothly said. At that moment all I could imagine was the last party I was able to attend. That was my last breath, my last hug, and my last kiss with Lieutenant Schneider. Oh how I loved that, but I will never have that back. "So... would you care to come with me?" he asked again. I immediately returned back to the present moment. "Sure, I would love to." My small mouth let out a tiny smile. He returned a smile back, but only his was much bigger.

As soon as he was gone I sat there for another hour before it was time for the party. I would not really call it a party. It is more of a planning convention. These men do not quite understand the meaning of words all the way, but that is alright. I put on a new uniform that I found in the bottom of my small duffel. When I finished I was able to walk down the empty corridor and out to the big hangar. "Oh my! You should have seen the news yesterday. Did you all see it?" I heard one of the pilots ask in a very vociferous manner. "No, we did not see the news." Some cheered while others yelled, "Oh yes, we did see what was on the news." They were laughing hysterically at something. "It was about the girl, you know... the girl." I was contemplating as they were explaining. "The girl pilot in our squadron. What? Her name is Marion I think. She is super cute, but you know, she's too shy. I cannot believe that she pulled off that big of a move."

The girl. Who is the girl? Oh no, it is me. Why do I have to be the talk of the town? These guys need to leave me alone. It is about time that I deserve some privacy and to be left alone. I was on the news... okay, well, why would I be on there? They mentioned that I was cute. Oh no. Am I shy? Well I guess I need to show them something different, don't I? That big of a move? What did they mean? My brain flipped to being self conscious and scared. I stayed outside of the hangar so I could listen. "She was on the news for being in love with a Luftwaffe pilot. If she comes tonight we will have to bring it up." I heard one of them say. Pilots do not know how to keep their voices down when they are talking about someone else. "Oh, it was probably just some amateur pilot..." I am pretty sure that Officer Deveroux was talking. Another quickly interrupted. "Oh no, he was the ace pilot. He was Germany's best pilot, and their youngest." Just then I walked in.

"Hey flyboys... what is up with you all?" I winked as I confidently took a seat right in the middle of them all. "What has gotten into you?" One of the pilots asked in a very flirtatious manner. "Just a bunch of PTSD, Anxiety, and a severe case of I hate all of this." I snapped back. One of the doors slammed shut in the back of the hangar. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Schneider herself?" Hornet called out loud. I rolled my eyes. "No!" I immediately stood up. "I am Lieutenant Wright, and I do now know where the heck you are getting your weird information from." My mouth began to run, but I had to calm it down. "Oh you were on television a day or two ago. You and your pilot boyfriend made international headlines." Hornet immediately smirked and sassed back to me. I was on TV! My anxiety began to creep back to being at the maximum. "Don't push me around." I clenched my teeth as I talked. "Aww isn't she getting mad? You are so cute, you know that, right?" He said again. "Do not talk about him and do not talk about it either."

The wind beat the hangar harder than it had earlier. My breaths became shallow and hard to take. "They exploited you. You will forever be known as the little 18 year old lady pilot that kissed an 20 year old German pilot." he teased, but I knew he was so serious. They must have said a lot over the radio. "No, I am not a little girl. Tomorrow I will prove that. Our next mission is tomorrow and I will prove it to you. I am bigger, better, and more amazing than anyone here gives me credit for. I am not going to just sit down and do nothing about it. The door has been opened. I am no talk, but just action. I hate it when people do that, so I do not do so myself." I sat back down and tried to hide my emotions. "He is dead, so can we not talk about this? It is a very sore subject." I insisted. They luckily stopped teasing and hurting me.

I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I turned around only to discover the presence of Lieutenant Marelli. His body stood taller than mine and he was of much bigger stature. "I am so sorry about that madame." he said as he sat next to me. "Oh, it is alright. I have learned to put up with it if you know what I mean." I played around with my remove before flight tag I had hooked around my belt loop. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked yet again. "No, I am just severely suffering emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I do not understand what is happening and it hurts so bad. I feel so hopeless and helpless." I covered my eyes with my hand.

The men remained laughing historically in the corner of the hangar. I felt quite self conscious as time went on. "She did!" I heard a man yell. When my back turned around I saw it was Lieutenant Grayson. "Ahh you talking about me, flyboys?" I asked while laughing back at their faces. "You are brave, aren't you Mrs. Schneider?" He laughed. "I'm not married to him. How do you know he exists? Because he's dead." My mind shattered at pieces yet again. "Aww. Heartbroken. Torn. Sad. Angry. Being up in the air will kill all of that." He smiled. "Keep it rhetorical will ya?" Another pilot shouted.