The War that I Fought.

Chapter 3

The next three days flew by way too fast. It all felt like a blur.

The day Nick shipped out, I refused to shed tears in front of him. I needed to be strong not only for Nick, but for me. 

"You're going to be okay, alright. You are so strong you'll make it through this." Nick said to me right before getting on the ship, "Stay strong. Remember that I will come home and we will be together in the end. I promise."

"You stay strong too. Please stay safe." I replied, as I ruffled his hair. 

He laughed, but it sounded forced. I could see the tears welling in his eyes. 

I handed him the photo of us on our first date, smiling in front of the movie theater like little kids. He had his arm around my waist and I leaned against him with my one leg up. Earlier that day I put a note, I will love you forever and always. Stay strong and fight on. I'm here waiting.

He smiled a sad smile as he took it from my hand.  

I blinked back tears, wanting to stay strong like Nick thought I was. I could cry later. 

Nick hugged me, both of us at a loss for words, and slowly walked off the dock, onto the battleship's deck. He walked to the edge where thousands of young men waved their hats to their loved ones. His eyes shined as he blew me a kiss. 

My heart felt like it might burst. Tears pooled in my eyes.

The ramp went up, closing Nick away from me. The Nick that I loved with my whole heart, the Nick that was my best friend, the Nick that helped me out of darkness. He was leaving me. 

The ship slowly pulled away. Nick and the other men waved back to us. I saw the tears shining on Nick's cheeks. His mom was wailing next to me, leaning on her husband, whose face was full of mixed emotions, then suddenly went blank like a snuffed out fire that couldn't fight anymore. His little brother, Maddox, was clinging to his mother's waist, something he hadn't done in years. Mia, Maddox's twin sister, was sobbing next to him. I didn't know  how to help or what to do. 

"Skyler, darling, come here." His mom motioned for me to join the hug.  

I slowly walked over to the group and bent down to Mia's height.

"Hey Mia" I said softly, "I know this is hard, trust me, this is really hard on me too, but you have to be strong, just like Nick would want you be." 

She looked up at me, her big, green eyes shining. 

"I'm a thirteen year old girl crying into my mom's shirt. I'm not strong" she whimpered.

"Yes you are." I exclaimed, "look at what you've been through! You are so strong!"

"Really?" She asked, I could hear the want in her voice. She wanted to be strong just like Nick, but she didn't believe she could.

"Yes!" I replied, tears welling in my eyes as hope filled hers. She looked at me with discernment. 

"I will be strong for my family just like Nick. They need me." She said as she straightened up to her full height. She wiped her tears and pulled away from her mom. 

"I will be strong." She whispered as she looked back to see the ship sail out. She stood there with confidence, watching the young men sail off, a look of sheer determination filling her face. Her mom stood shaking, her dad emotionless, and her brother in fear, but she stood in strength. 

 I pulled her in for a hug, her small frame leaning against mine. She looked up at me, her green eyes unblinking. 

"I will stay strong" she repeated. 

I turned to Maddox. His blue eyes were puffy and red as he looked up at me.

" I wanna be strong too." He said. So he pulled away from his mom and made his way over to where his sister was standing, and grabbed her hand.

"We'll be strong together. After all we are twins" he said with a grin. 

Mia smiled back at him. 

"Together" she replied.

Jake walked over and grabbed Mia's other hand. He smiled at the twins before looking back to the ship. Soon, other children were walking over and joining them, linking hands and gazing at the  horizon. 

"And did those feet in ancient time walk upon England's mountains green?" Mia started to sing The English anthem in her sweet voice. The other children slowly joined in

"And was the holy Lamb of God on England's pleasant pastures seen? And did the Countenance Divine shine forth upon our clouded hills?" More children linked hands with the others, growing the song.

"And was Jerusalem builded here among these dark Satanic mills? Bring me my bow of burning gold:" 

The adults began to sing along, the song was swelling.

"Bring me my arrows of desire: bring me my spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire. I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand Till we have built Jerusalem" 

The soldiers put on brave faces and joined in. 

"In England's green and pleasant land."  

The song bursted into a joyous sound.

The song ended when the ship started pulling out of the harbor, but instead of a sad grieving atmosphere, there was a joyous, strengthened atmosphere. The people watching the soldiers off no longer looked frightened and hopeless, but instead they looked proud of their sons, fathers, and other loved ones. The soldiers looked ready and stronger than ever, determined to fight for their country. Mia stood in the middle of it all, a look of pride painted on her small face.  Nick looked at me with gratefulness and salute towards the English flag along with the other soldiers. He smiled his confident smile, before the ship pulled farther and farther away.

I stood there in silence, watching the kids wave to all the soldiers and Nick gain confidence.  I blew him a kiss before he looked away. He caught it in his hand and put it in his pocket. A rush of emotions hit me like a tidal wave, pride, hope, love, and strength. I felt proud knowing that wasn't the only one rising up in strength. We were going to make it through this war, and nothing was going to stop us. Together we would strengthen our country. Together we would make it out of this.