Traveling Soldier

Departure Day

       "Good morning," Gabriel said, kissing my forehead. My face felt stiff from all the tear stains after we both cried ourselves to sleep. "We look awful," I said, taking in our appearance in the mirror on my dresser. He chuckled and pulled me back down after I had just sat up. "Gabriel!" I fake scolded while laughing. "I have to leave today," he said, getting serious. "You're not fully healthy yet, though," I said, bringing back tears to my eyes. "I'm able to walk without limping, even though it hurts. I can't go against the Army's orders," he said, groggily. I sat up with my back to him and took out my french braid while new tears streamed down my face. "June..." he started. Without even looking at him I could tell that he was too choked up to finish. "I don't think I can stand to see you wasting your time on me...I'm not-" he tried again. "Stop!" I broke him off, "I'm not wasting my time on you. You have been my world since you stepped foot in that diner. You're about to say that I should find somebody else because you might not come home...But you still might come home...I don't want anybody else...I want you! I'll always want you!" 

      He got up and came to the foot of my bed to face me. I looked at the ground but he made me look at him. "I love you, June," he said, his voice breaking. I kissed him and made it last. He put his arms around me and hugged me as tight as I could handle. I sobbed into his shoulder and wouldn't let go until I stopped crying. "Come brush your hair and wash up before Delilah sees you," he said half-heartedly. I did as I was told and put on my mascara and red lipstick. "Wear this," Gabriel said, showing me my navy blue pencil skirt with a white short-sleeved button shirt and a skinny navy waist belt. 

      Mr. Brown came by with Gabriel's grandmother and Dylan. "Come here, precious," I said, picking up Dylan. We left in the car and didn't say a word until we got to the station. Delilah came with us and held Dylan while Gabriel and I held each other. "You have to be strong, princess," Gabriel said, moving the hair out of my face. "I love you," I told him, strangely being able to hold back the tears. "I love you, too," he said back. He held me while the train pulled up and then hugged Delilah and kissed Dylan on the forehead. "June," he whispered, cupping my chin in his hand. He kissed me one last time before getting on the train. I waved as the train left and then turned to Mr. Brown. "Oh God, I love him! Why did he have to go?! I love him, I love him, I love him!" I sobbed into Mr. Brown's shoulder. Delilah and Mr. Brown teared up as they made out what I was saying. Mr. Brown got Dylan in his arms and Delilah embraced me as I sobbed more. "Come on, child, let's get you home," she said.

     As soon as we got home, Delilah lead me to my room and layed me and Dylan down on my bed. I noticed Gabriel's shorts on the back of my rocking chair and grabbed them before drifting to sleep, curled up beside Dylan...