ᴴᵉᵃᵛᵉⁿ ˢᵉⁿᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵀᵒ ᴹᵉ ~ ᴬ.ᴳ

𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤... 𝕠𝕜𝕒𝕪... ~ 𝟘𝟚

❝ 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉'𝓈 𝓁𝑒𝒻𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝑒 𝒞𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝓅𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒽𝒾𝓂 𝒶 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 ❞

𝕓𝕣𝕠𝕜𝕖𝕟 ~ 𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕒

ᴶᵘˡʸ ²⁸ᵗʰ ²⁰¹⁹

"Hey Leo, I just got back from my shift. Nina's sleeping, and Fia's passed out on the couch. Where are you? Call me back." - 1:20AM

"Leo, I've called you six time's now. I'm really getting worried. Can you please call me back? Or shoot me a messag- I mean not shoot- like with a gun- like NO GUNS. Oh my god... breathe, Claudia... Just let me know you're okay." - 2:57 AM

"Leo, if you don't pick up this damn phone, I swear I'm going to-, oh baby, what are you doing awake? No, mommy's not angry... baby, just go to bed. I'll come to tuck you in, okay? Leonardo, answer your goddamn phone! Yes, Nina, I'm coming." - 3:22AM

"Leo, I swear to god or whoever the hell is in charge up there, I will kick your ass if you don't answer your phone. I have been awake all night, worried sick! I have my next shift in 3 fucking hours! If you are dead right now, not only will I revive you and kill you for worrying me sick, but I'll also do it for the beauty sleep I'm currently missing!" - 5:08AM

"Leo... please answer. I just want to know that you're safe- yeah, he's not responding to mine either, Fia. I can't sleep, not knowing where he is. No, it's okay. I called into work. I'm not going. Leo... please let us know if you're okay. If you don't wanna answer my calls, answer Sofia's, okay?" - 5:59AM

❤︎ ⎯ ❤︎ ⎯ ❤︎ ⎯ ❤︎ ⎯ ❤︎ ⎯ ❤︎ ⎯ ❤︎ 

Leonardo Esposito was, in fact, okay. Well... physically okay. Mentally... well, that's too much to go into. After taking Sofia and Giovanna out for dessert the night before when they arrived home, the girls both went to bed exhausted after spending a whole day out and about. Leo went to his room to get some sleep but was unable to as his mind was overloaded with thoughts and memories he definitely did not want to relive.

The soldier took it upon himself to get out of the house and go for a run. Before quietly exiting his home, he changed into a pair of black gym shorts and a white tank top.

As Leo began his run, he hoped it would help him calm his thoughts, though they kept pushing to the forefront of his brain. And with every thought, he'd run faster and faster.

The saddest part of Leo's life as a soldier was the number of friends he had lost since returning home. Friends he considered family after spending so much time with them. And though his troop became a family, they still all had one to return to. On his first tour, Leo couldn't help the excitement he had to fight for his country, though the enthusiasm dwindled when he returned home. He lost several of his friends, and what sucked the most was he was the one who had to deliver the news to their families.

After spending so long together, all the soldiers wanted to do was see their families and friends back home. However, Leo soon learned there was no going back. He no longer feels he fits in with them like he used to; unbeknownst to his sister and niece, the soldier feels out of place.