Battlefield - Chapter 1

Chapter 2 - " Final Goodbyes"

   Skies are bright blue, the golden sun rays squeeze through my window. Birds chirp and bee's buzz. But I sit staring at my calender September 7th, the day I prayed would never come, the day I wish just, dissapeared. To everybody else, it's a day to play with your kids or walk your dog in the park or go surfing at the beach, but for me it was the day I dreaded. September 7th, just the thought of it makes me shiver. Today was the day I have to watch the love of my life get on a plane to war.

    I walk down stairs, slow, dragging out the steps till I reach the bottom. The wooden floor is cold against my bare feet. But it's like i'm numb, numb to everything, beacause the pain in my heart feels worst then being stabbed in the stomach 13 times in with a knife. I cant let go, I cant say goodbye.

  " Hey, Gray, you want some breakfast?" my sister Annabell greets me with a soft rub on the shoulders and a gentle smile.

" I cant eat." I say in a sharp tone as if she's suppose to know how I feel. She's getting married in a month to the man of her dreams and is seven months pregnant. And I'm getting left for three years.

" Food is the best medicine, you know." she said handing me a warm buttermilk biscuit.

" I'M NOT HUNGRY! How many times do I have to say it! " my eyes filled with tears, as I smashed the biscuit against the kitchen table. My blood boiling and my body shaking. Annabell hugged me, tight, very tight. So tight I could feel her baby kicking inside her stomach. She wiped my tears with her warm fingers and straitened out my hair. " I need to get ready to go to the airport." I said fighting back more tears.

  When I got upstairs I looked at my dresser. Six pictures lined up perfectly staright on the top shelf.

   Picture 1: Me and my dad at a football game. 

   Picture 2: My Boarder Collie, Roxy, and my Boxer, Gage, at the beach.

   Picture 3: Annabell and her finace, Tony, when she was five months pregnant.

   Picture 4: Me and my mom at the hospital, she was diagnosed with cancer when I was sixteen. She's still in the hospital. I'm 22.

   Picture 5: Me leaning against an old oak tree in a white, thin strapped dress.

   Picture 6: Me and Paul on the 4th of July with fireworks in the background. He told me he loved me that night.

  I hear a knock on the front door. It's Paul. I grabbed my jacket and ran down the stairs. The last time he would be in my doorway for three years. When I got to the door I swung it open and hugged him as tight as I could, he spun me around then kissed me. The best kiss ever. Long, passionate, breath-taking. A salty tear raced down my pale skin. He lifted my head up by my chin. He looked me in the eyes and said " Hey,dont cry. I love you Gracyn. Three years and I'll be right here were I belong. You have to stay strong for me Gracyn, for us." I nodded and he kissed my forehead, grabbed my hand and walked me to the car. He shut the passenger door and I just took a deep breathe and smiled.

  As we drove for what seemed like seconds, our song came on," Your Song" by: Elton John. He sang that to me after my mom was diagnosed. He was my rock. Now I have to be his. I have to stay strong, no matter what. He turned up the volume and sang along. We laughed and smiled and it felt like just another car ride but it wasn't it was our last one for three years. We parked at the airport, my heart skipped a beat. As we walked through the doors I choked back tears, my stomach did summer salutes. He got his bags checked and tickets scanned. Then we sat we waited for that announcement that would tear us apart. He held my hand and I prayed. I prayed, almost as hard as I did when my mom was told she had about three months to live. But she survived and I'm praying Paul will too.

" Flight 297 to Virginia is now boarding, flight 297 is boarding." There it was, and this was it. We both stood up, before I could say anything he grabbed me. He whispered "no matter what. I promise." Then he slipped me a silver necklace with the words " I promise." In graved on a heart.

" I'll wear it everyday." I said just before he kissed me. This time it was even better, longer, and I never wanted to let go. He hugged me again until the words " Final boarding call for flight 297," pried us apart. " I love you." He said just before he kissed my head.

" I love you too." I said as he walked away. He mouthed the words "Goodbye."

  Then he was....gone.

  I held my necklace and said see you in three years.