Lillian Henry is seventeen years old when her 20 year-old brother, Adam, and his best friend, Blake Kingston, enroll in the army. And she's eighteen, when they come back, her feelings left unchanged. As for his, they're even stronger than before.
T...
"Heard from Adam that you were joining us in Germany in March," I tell Lily as I watch her brush through her hair.
"She really had to go around and tell him, didn't she?"
"She said she just wanted to make sure you would agree to come, and now that I am aware of the situation, you can't turn down her offer. I really look forward to seeing you, baby, you can't imagine how much I miss you."
"I can imagine, actually," she confesses, looking away from the camera to hide the tears in her eyes. "Because I miss you just as much," she adds, looking back up with glossy eyes.
"We'll see each other again soon," I promise her.
"I can't wait."
I knew there would be no way she would turn down Zora's offer, she just had to accept to step on her ego a little. I am aware that she doesn't like the idea of letting someone spend so much money on her, but we both know that, for Zora, it's a gift she makes to herself, and not actually to Lily.
"You know what today is?" she asks me after a moment of silence.
"I have no clue."
"Don't feel bad, I totally hadn't thought about it, but I just look at the date and... it's Valentine's Day," she mentions as my eyes look at the bottom right corner of the computer. It is indeed the 14th of February. "Will you be my Valentine?" she laughs.
"Of course, I will be your Valentine," I chuckle, sending her a kiss through the screen.
"So, what would the plan be if we were together right now?"
I smile at every single idea that bursts into my head the moment her words reach my ears.
"I'd take you to a fancy restaurant. We'd get all dressed up, you in a beautiful dress, me in a suit. I know that you love me in a tux."
"I do. What about dinner?"
"I'd take you to that place you like for dessert."
"The ice cream parlor?"
"The ice cream parlor," I repeat as an affirmation.
"I love that place, they make the best sundae."
"We'd eat a sundae under the stars, wishing on every shooting star we would see, and I'd look at you with the biggest smile on my face because I'd be the happiest man alive."
I see the smile on her face, the most sincere smile I have seen on her in a while. She's been doing so good since I've left, we have been doing good since we left. Except for a few tears, it's been going well, we're getting through the distance, and sometimes, it even feels as if she is with me.
"So, we'd eat ice cream in our fancy clothes, and then..."
"Then, we'd drive around town, making small talk, and we'd end the night in a hotel, just the two of us in a suite."
"And let me guess," she says. "You'd fuck me hard in that hotel room," she whispers, trying not to catch the attention of the guys around me, but in all honesty, they're all too busy talking with their own wives, girlfriends, children, friends...
"I would. I'd make up for lost time."
"I'd let you," she winks playfully, making the both of us burst into laughter. "I can't believe we're spending our first Valentine's Day speaking over video chat."
"We'll have tens of others to celebrate," I remind her.
She nods excitedly, probably making scenarios in her head. I sure am.
Lillian
When I wake up, the video chat is over, and my laptop no longer has battery. I can't believe I fell asleep during the only time I had to talk with Blake this week.
I walk down to the kitchen, finding my mom dressing the table for dinner. I hate napping before dinner, it always ruins my appetite and it makes me feel nauseous. My mom takes a look at me from the other side of the room.
"Was he that boring?" she asks me, jokingly.
"Very funny," I blurt out, not finding the joke funny. "I guess my study of the criminal code these last few days got the best of me."
"You have to take it easy, Lillian. I know you are putting all the effort necessary to be the best, but you look exhausted, sweetheart."
"I want to be the best, I want good grades. And as a plus, studying keeps busy, and when I'm busy, I'm not stressing out over the fact that my boyfriend and my brother are at war."
My father walks in, "We are proud of the energy you put into school, honey, and if it helps you get through the hard times, it's a good way to cope. Until it becomes too much," he adds after a few silent seconds. "You have to be careful. Your mental health is as important as school."
"I know. And I have it under control. I swear."
They both look at me as if the words I just said are unbelievable.
"It's the truth," I assure them. "I made an appointment with Dr. Saint Martin, you know, the woman I started seeing after the rape. I'm seeing her next week."
"That's good," mom tells me. And I actually agree with her. If something is bothering me, I have to talk to someone.
Little did I know I wouldn't get to talk about it.
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How mean is it to finish the chapter like this? (honest answers are accepted)
But lucky you, the next chapter is coming soon :)
Warning: I think it is the saddest chapter I ever wrote in my whole life :(
