Shy Pilot

Chapter 7

Evelyn was stitching up a sailor Doris Miller. He winced as she inserted the stitch to start patching up the cut on his head.

Lizzie was cleaning up the workspace and watched Evelyn do her work carefully. It was quiet, Lizzie hated awkward silences. She always felt like they make the space seem so empty.

"Soooo how'd you get a cut like that?"

Doris gave her a half-smile, "A boxing match on the ship."

"Did you win?"

"Yes ma'am"

Evelyn was finishing up the last stitch and tied and cut the thread, "What do you get for winning?"

He paused for a minute, "Respect." Lizzie handed him a mirror to see Evelyn's work. "Why do you have to fight with your fists to earn it then?" inquired Lizzie.

The sailor thought about it for a moment before telling the two nurses, "I left my mama in Texas and joined the Navy to see the world. They made me a cook," he scoffed, "not even a cook. I clean up after the sailors eat. It's been two years and they haven't even let me fire a weapon yet."

Lizzie and Evelyn nodded their heads in understanding. It really was unfair how discriminations get in the way of seeing what a true soldier should be.

The two nurses sent him off and watched as a car pulled up to the hospital.

"Oh it's Danny," Lizzie smiled but faded away when she saw him in formal uniform. She looked at Evelyn. Her face fell in realization as she started to put the pieces together.

"No... it can't be."

~~~~~~~~~

Evelyn cried for days in the nurses home. And it broke Lizzie's heart to see her like this. To Liz, Evelyn was always like a strong rock among the other nurses, so seeing her being beaten down by Rafe's disappearance affected the others in ways too.

As for Danny, he talked with Lizzie how he was feeling. He was just glad to have her by his side to get through it.

"He was the one who taught me how to fly, Liz. I mean, we were like brothers. Went through everything together. And... and he'd always try to protect me." He put his head on his hands and started to break down. Lizzie hugged him, and started to tear up too. Two people she cared about so much were both suffering, and oh how she wished she could do more for them.

A few days later, they had a gathering at the bar to honor Rafe. Many of the pilots who were close to Rafe attended and said a few words about him. Evelyn was silent and had a numb expression on her face the entire time. The other nurses kept glancing at her to see if she was holding up alright. Lizzie was right next to Danny holding his trembling hand. He got up after the last guy to finish up their little service. He held up his glass to make a toast.

"To Rafe McCawley. The best pilot, and the best friend I ever knew or ever will know."

"To Rafe."

Danny, Evelyn, and Lizzie were the last to leave the bar. Lizzie went home with Evelyn and kissed Danny goodbye. When they were walking along to sidewalk Evelyn started to cry.

"Oh Ev," Lizzie hugged her tight as Evelyn sobbed into her chest, "Ev, it'll be alright. I know it's hard, but it'll get easier I promise."

"But he promised me he'd come back to me... he promised." Evelyn was over come with grief, she felt like she couldn't even hold herself up. Rafe was like her other half, what good is one half without the other?

~~~~~~~

Lizzie took a few of Evelyn's shifts to allow herself to get back on her feet. She also visited Danny more at the base to see how he was doing. He's gotten better, but Lizzie could tell it'll still take a lot more time to fully be himself again. She looked the pilot as he sat down with his friends enjoying a drink. He was smiling, but something was missing. 

No, not something...

Someone