Bound By Purpose

Till The End of The Line

November 28th, 1940

The small parade of families dressed in black proceeds across the lawn of the cemetery to the new hole in the ground. A few days ago Steve's mother passed away from pneumonia. She'd been battling it for weeks. We were expecting it, we just didn't know when we would have to say goodbye.

I'd been there when the moment came. Steve and I both were. Bucky had been away at the time. He didn't even know Sara had been sick because Steve insisted we not bother him while he was testing for the army. I was devastated the night Bucky left, my father had left with him. With the war raging on in Europe my father has been busier than ever and Bucky figured he should get trained up before the fight demands it. His hand is in mine now as we meet up with Steve who is looking down at his mother in the ground. Bucky puts his free hand on his shoulder reassuring him of our presence.

I look back at the small group that has formed now. My father still isn't here. Looking forward again I try to shake my father from my mind but he remains. I hadn't seen him in nearly a month now. He has been running throughout the country from base to base checking up on the rise of the American army. He's just doing his job, but I haven't been handling his absence in the best way. Things have been changing so quickly and being able to communicate with him during his busy schedule has been grueling.  He said he'd try his damnedest to make it back for the funeral, but I guess his job is too demanding. I clutch onto Bucky's arm as the world comes back into focus.

The procession continues normally. There are lots of tears from Sarah's work friends. Although I didn't know her extremely well, she was always kind to my family and I, after all she was the first friend we made here. I'm too afraid to see what Steve's face looks like so I do my best to stay behind him until everyone has said their goodbyes. People slowly turn away until it's just Bucky, Steve and I left. Bucky and I step away from Steve allowing him to have one final moment alone.

"Was Steve alone when it happened?" Bucky asks. The communication I'd had with him about the night she passed had been brief and not too accurate on account of his strict schedule.

I take a deep breath as the moment floods back into my mind, "No." I take another breath. "I was there too. I knew it was going to be soon and I just couldn't handle the thought of him being alone when it did finally happen..." I cut myself off as Steve meets up with us. I can't read his face. He looks sad, but there is no indication of him ever crying.

I slip my hand out of Bucky's and fling myself at Steve wrapping my arms around his super skinny body that seems to be even smaller than it was earlier. Slowly his arms swing up around me and then I feel Bucky join the hug as well. We are silently standing in our group hug for several moments before we all, one by one ease out of the tangle of our arms.

Crossing the grass we make it to the curb where my mother is waiting for me. She wants me to come with her to a meeting with the administrator of an all girls boarding house. I had protested and exhausted the fact that my only priority on the day was Steve and his well-being but my parents wouldn't have it.  High school is almost over and my mother and father want me out in the city on my own. I turn to Steve and Bucky taking my sweet time with the goodbyes, not wanting to leave them. "Are you sure It's okay if I leave?" I ask Steve hoping he'll ask me to stay.

"Yeah. You've done so much already, you should go. Honestly Bucky said he'll be around for another day or so." I knew he'd want me to go. I nod my head.

"Okay." I say, squeezing his hands before hugging him and moving over to Bucky.

"You better stop by before you leave again." Looking up into his eyes I see that the sadness he feels for Steve is still there. I give him a smug grin knowing the possibility of seeing him might be slim. "Just let me know." I stand on my tiptoes giving him a swift peck on his cheek. I take a moment to hug him and then I turn away without another glance, not wanting to feel the pain Steve feels anymore. When I reach the car my mother ushers me inside. When I'm in my seat I bury my face in my hands, ashamed to leave for such a pointless reason.