Eleven months is a long time.
In the perspective of a woman who was waiting for her lover to come back from his deployment in Iraq? eleven months felt like hell. Stretching to what Delilah felt like a lifetime. Several lifetimes. Staring out of the window of her kitchen, her mind began working…
David was gone about five months now.
“Don’t worry, I’ll come back home.” That was the last of what she had ever heard from him. He’ll come back home he said.
David’s voice, his warm smiles, his touches and his deep chuckles all of it were like a distant memory to her. It was hard for her to come to terms that he was gone. Even if things were not as bad as before, Iraq was not safe. She knew that much.
Battles rages on, suicide bombers detonating vans and homes of innocents, children dies and people become homeless every day. It’s a scary world out there and her lover was out there somewhere in the midst of it.
Taking a sip of her usual morning coffee she tried to stop thinking so negatively. David had always commented on that, her grim point of view in life.
But God, how she missed him!
Pushing herself from her seat by the window she set out about her day. The morning sky was clear and blue but come afternoon grey clouds appeared in the horizon. Threatening looking and looming over the town Delilah peered from her place at the counter of her book store.
“It looks like it’s gonna rain soon.” She said to Amy who was arranging new books on the display shelf.
“Oh damn it! I have laundry out today.” Amy complained and took a glance at the sky through the window. “This morning it was so clear…” complained the mother of two.
“Tell you what, after you’re done arranging those books you can leave early.” Amy turned to look at her.
“No, I can’t do that. Dee, you spoil me too much.”
“Don’t want those laundry wet don’t we?” at that remark Amy grinned and took her up on that offer.
Rain at night felt great most of the times. She loved how it sound when it pitter patter against her window as she snuggled in bed, warm and toasty. When it rained at times other than that, it usually was trouble. She’ll get wet, the lawn puddle, hanging clothes got soaked and rain also limits business. So after Amy left she decided to lock up shop for that day.
She was about to cranked up the engine of her Honda when her cell phone rang. It was Pamela, David’s mother.
“Hey Pam.” She greeted naturally but on the other line Delilah heard sobbing. Her heart immediately pounded. “Pam, what’s wrong?”
“David… he…” her grip on the cell phone loosened as she braved herself, to hear what come next. When Pam finally hung up, Delilah was screaming in the car. Tears cascading blurred her eyes.
There had been an attack when he was out patrolling.
He said that he’ll come home.
He said that he’ll come home!
But not like this, please God… not like this… hugging her sides as she cried she tried to hold herself together, afraid to spliter apart while slowly drying inside.
The rain had started to pour heavily outside.
*~~~~*
just inspired by Nickelback. im feeling particularly emo tonite.
Far Away, that a good song!
cheers!
