𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣'𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙣

𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆

Calvin
• • •

As November came to a close, so did my time with Saturn. My next session of training was in only a few days, and this time I would be gone for two weeks rather than only a few days. I prayed I'd be able to survive it.

There was a small flower shop in the village, where I found Saturn the perfect white rose. Delivering it to her would be bittersweet. Mostly bitter. There was nothing sweet about me leaving Kenton.

Rather than filling me with eagerness, knocking on her bedroom door tonight made me resentful.

"Come in," Saturn called.

She was perfect. Wearing what I could only imagine to be an expensive silk night dress. Her hair freshly curled. Her eyes wide at the sight of me.

"For me?" she murmured, accepting my rose. I nodded. She smelled the rose, and the smile it gave her made me feel almost better.

"We need to talk," I said softly, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.

Saturn cocked her head. "What about?"

"This rose is a promise," I said slowly, "that I will return to you soon, and that you will still be mine when I do so."

Saturn's confusion swelled. "You're leaving again?" she assumed.

"Yes," I replied grimly.

Her shoulders dropped, and so did my heart. Just when we'd finally managed to connect, I had to leave her.

"Where are you going?" Saturn asked softly.

She deserved to know the truth, but I would spare her of it. My commitment was none of her concern. "Just on a small work trip, not too far from here," I replied.

"But you work at the shop," Saturn argued, her eyes welling with tears, "I should come with you." My heart shattered. You don't want to go where I'm going, dear Saturn.

"Trust me," I murmured, "it's strictly business. You'd find it quite dull."

Saturn shook her head. My worst fear was coming alive. I never wanted this burden to fall onto her shoulders.

I moved closer to her, wiping away the single tear that made its way down her cheek. "Don't cry, my darling," I said softly. She glanced up at me and leaned her cheek against my palm. I stroked it with my thumb. How could I make this better?

I pulled Saturn against my chest. The idea of not having contact with her for two weeks was unimaginable. Cell phones were strictly prohibited on the base. Suddenly, an idea sparked. I pulled away from her, forcing her to look up at me. "Letters, Saturn. I'll write you letters."

The suggestion of a smile formed on her lips. I knew that writing letters to her was a Saturn friendly idea. I would send them with the bus driver, as they wouldn't arrive quickly enough by mail. There was a route to Kenton every three days as the base was located in a hugely populated area of the country. It was perfect. I'd reimburse the driver for his troubles, of course. Anything was worth getting my words across to Saturn. Anything was worth proving to her how much I cared.

"When do you leave?" Saturn whispered.

"Two days from now," I replied.

"And when will you be home?"

I paused. It was never guaranteed. Last time, I had been requested to make up for a mistake I'd made in training the day of my planned departure. I only hoped it wouldn't happen again, or worse.

"When will you be home, Calvin?" Saturn asked again, growing more and more concerned as the moments passed.

"Very soon, my love," I replied, "I don't recall the exact date. But I will be back with you soon. Remember the rose?"

Saturn nodded, picking it up to play with it in her fingers.

What an angel.

"I need you to trust me, Saturn," I said softly, "take care of the shop while I'm gone. And yourself."

She nodded. I watched with dismay as another tear slipped down her cheek. Seeing her cry was like having a knife in my chest and twisting it.

I stood to leave the room, finding the pain to be unbearable. I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. It killed me to leave her with nothing but a rose and the promise of my return. But even still, I had one final promise for her.

I hesitated at the door. "Saturn?" She looked up at me.

"Watch for my letters."