Just the Way you Are

A 4th of July Memory

From my Flufftober 2021 collection. :)

Hetty was going through an old photo album, when she saw an old photo of her snuggling up to Granger.

She smiled. 'Oh. I remember this one!'

A long time ago, back in the 70's

It had been a month since she spent 5 harrowing days in the jungles of Vietnam after being shot down out of the sky. Hetty hadn't really done much after being brought home other then relunctently going to therapy and grocery shopping.

The 4th of July was tomorrow, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to celebrate.

Then she heard a knock at the door, it was Granger. She let him in.

'What do you want?' She asked.

'I just want to know if you want to watch the fireworks with me tomorrow night.' Granger replied.

'Sounds nice, but I don't know.'

'Look, it's been a month. You haven't said when you'll be coming back to work, I don't hear from you a lot. I'm a little concerned about you.'

'Well, I'm okay. I don't do much, I'm going to therapy, I'm okay.' Hetty said.

Not believing her. 'Really? Maybe it's time you get out a little more.' Granger replied.

'If I say yes to this, will you stop bugging me?'

The next night, she went with Granger to the fireworks viewing site.

'Want a sparkler?' Granger offered.

'No thank you.' Hetty replied.

After a couple of minutes, she moved into his side and started crying.

'Oh dear. I knew there had to be something up.' Granger thought. He looped his arm around her and asked: 'What's really up, Hetty?'

'I've been struggling a lot this past week! I'm up most of the night because I can't sleep, sometimes when it rains, parts of my body starts to hurt. Everything sucks right now!' Hetty cried out.

Pulling her in closer. 'Shh shh. It's okay.'

'I didn't know it was going to be this hard!'

'It was 5 days in the jungle, while being hunted down and presumed dead. It was hard for me as well. Finding you the way you were was very emotional for me as well. You can't expect this to just go away overnight.' Granger said, trying to soothe her.

'Sniff. I know. But this is so tiring!'

'Want me to stay with you for a while again?'

'I don't want to feel like a burden. Hetty meekly said.

Brushing a tear from her face. 'You're never a burden, Henrietta.'

She wanted to kiss him right there, but she chose to hug him instead.

'Thank you.' She softly said.

Then the fireworks started.

She went out onto the porch and sat on the porch swing, and rested her head on her sweetheart's arm.

'Hi. What's up?' Granger asked.

'Oh. Just feeling grateful to have you in my life.' Hetty replied.

Smiling. 'I love you too.'