Time- Vance Hopper

Chapter 22

I'm sorry for not updating, my mental health was pretty shitty but I've been doing better and it's almost Christmas and my birthday so.. yeah that's cool anyways I'll start updating again now.I

"Hey Finn, what's happening?" A very familiar voice said through the phone.

Finney couldn't believe it for a moment, he didn't know if what he was hearing was real. Was it really him? Was it really Robin?

"Robin?" He asked.

"Hey buddy. Don't cry." Robin said, Finney was still in disbelief.

"I'm not." He sniffled, and lied.

"Yes you are. I can see you."

"You can?" Finney said, a little scared and confused.

"I'm with you. I've always been with you this whole time."

"You have?"

"You and Marie. A man never leaves a friend behind, or his sister. My dad didn't leave his buddies behind when he went to 'nam. And he didn't come home, and I'm not coming home either. And I'm not going to leave you behind."

He said, as he recalled the time that his mom shared the story of their dad.

It was a cold December night in 1967. North Vietnam and south Vietnam were still at war. Elena Arellano was pregnant with another boy and her husband hadn't been there to see it.

He had only known through letters they'd send, not very often but when they could. Maybe like once or twice a month.

She sat on the couch, staring at a letter he had sent a few weeks ago.

Dear Elena,

Hello. How is everything? Have you thought of a name for the boy yet? I'm sorry if I haven't been writing much, I've been busy. And I'm sorry I haven't seen you in a few months. But I promise, I'll be home to see you, Marie, and the boy. He's due in a few weeks right? I've been keeping count. Anyways I don't have much time to write this, and I hope everything's good in America. I love you and miss you, both of you. Tell Marie that when I come back I'm going to give her all the ice cream she'll ever want.

She smiled at the note, closing her eyes and letting the tears fall.

Then, a sudden knock at her door had scared her. She jumped up and wiped her tears quickly, and opened the door.

There was two men outside of door, dressed formally.

"You're Elena Arellano, correct? May we come in, Ma'am?"

"S-sure."

"You have a daughter, right?"

"I do.. why?"

"You should sit down for this."

She sat down slowly, and expected the worst.

"The commandant of the Army has entrusted me to express his deep regret that your husband, Daniel, was killed in action in Vietnam northeast Tây Ninh Province . on December 10th, yesterday. He was killed during an operation. The commandant extends his deepest sympathy to you and your family in your loss."

Tears welled in the corners of her eyes. She quickly shook her head.

"No, no, no, no, no." Her voice broke. Elena peeked her head through the door.

"Mommy?" She asked, Elena didn't answer.

She then looked up to the soldiers, who looked down at the child.

"Is daddy- is he coming home?" She asked quietly, as her mom just cried even more as she said that. Marie went up to her mom.

"No." Elena said through sobs, and looked at her.

"Marie, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." She said, Marie looked at her confused and back up at the soldiers.

"I'm very sorry for your loss. We'll send a letter with all the funeral information."

Marie was still very lost, and she felt very out of this conversation. The men left, and the two were left alone.

"Mommy? Mommy? What's he talking about?" She said.

"Daddy isn't coming home. He- He's dead Marie.  He's not coming." Elena said, looking down at her lap, and away from Marie.

"What's that mean?" She asked innocently.

"It means- he's never coming back. He's gone, he's.." she tried to figure out the words for it.

"What do you mean, mama? Mama?" She asked.

Elena took a deep breath, and got on the floor next to Marie. Her eyes were red, she wiped her nose.

She sat down with her, as she tried to figure out words.

"He- He did a good thing, Marie. He made this place safe to live in. He did it for us and everyone else here. He's in heaven now. He's- He's watching us right now."

"So... he's not coming home?" Marie started to figure out, as she started crying a little bit too.

"He's not. He's safe now, he's happy for us. He's happy we're alive and safe."

"But... he'll see us right? We'll see him soon?"

"No, love. He's gone, forever. We'll see him when we die. But he doesn't want that for us. He wants us to stay alive, and happy, okay?"

She started to cry as she realized she'll never see him ever again. She slowly understood.

She ran into her moms arms, and they hugged as she rubbed her back.

Of course, Marie didn't remember most of it. But she did remember the crying.