"I deeply regret to inform you," spoke the uniformed soldier with a somber countenance. The words scarcely had time to register in Emily's mind before she collapsed in her doorway, overwhelmed by shock. She had always understood the uncertainty of her husband's return from deployment. Emily covered her face, concealing her tears. Another soldier, one she recognized and trusted, gently lifted her from the damp threshold.
"Come, Emily," murmured Jason in a soothing tone as he cradled her fragile form. She buried her face in his uniform, drenching it with her tears. "Tell me it's not true!" she cried out, gripped by anger.
"I wish it weren't," he responded with a tone of profound regret. Emily clenched her fists, striking his chest with increasing force. "Why weren't you there, Jason? Why didn't you go this time?" she demanded, the pain of her loss unbearable. It felt as though a weight of a thousand pounds rested on Emily's chest. Breathing and thinking became an arduous task as her mind incessantly replayed her last conversation with her husband. "This is the last time," he had said to her before picking up his bag and walking out the door.
Jason seated Emily on her couch, still holding her close. Her screams grew louder, but he held her even tighter in an attempt to console her.
Jason's voice quivered as he began, "I was there, Emily. I witnessed it all unfold, but there was nothing I could do." He knew his words wouldn't ease her pain. Emily's hazel eyes bore into his, tinged with a hint of resentment. Unable to meet her gaze any longer, Jason averted his eyes, carrying the weight of his regret.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered to her, his embrace unwavering as he held her close until she succumbed to the embrace of sleep.
YOU ARE READING
Echoes
RomanceAmid the heavy weight of grief and the uncertainty of a life without her husband, Emily, at twenty-seven, embarks on a transformative journey. During a fateful vacation, she crosses paths with Sean, an enigmatic companion who becomes an unexpected a...
