Crimson [840658]

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The week flew by far too quickly for my liking, it seemed that one second I had the letter and the next I was on my way.

The first thing I’d done after talking with Sandy, Codie and Daniel was phone my family to tell them. I knew they were shocked and worried by the tones in their voices, but they knew it would happen at some point so they already had some expectations. While my parents were as understanding as they could be, my sister was visibly upset. We were so close growing up, she wasn’t just my sister she was my best friend so I couldn’t imagine what was going through her head. If it had been in reverse and she was in the one in the army about to be diploid I knew I would be scared and worried for her.

With last minute preparation training everyday up to the day of our deployment I had to balance my time out. I spent training and a few hours with Codie, Sandy and Daniel, while one half with Nathan and the rest of the boys, and the other half with my family as it was only fair. I would miss them all incredibly.

I remember Nathan’s reaction when I told him about my deployment to Iraq, I’d gone back with him to the café we went to on our first date and he’d bought another slice of chocolate cake to share before I broke the news to him. “Nath, I found out yesterday that I’m being deployed to Iraq on Monday and I don’t know how long for”. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes after the words had left my mouth, he just looked at me while he processed what I’d said.  After that I’d expected a million and one questions, or at least more than the one word he muttered quietly; “okay”.

Even when we hung out after that he’d not been himself, he was a lot quieter and inclined. I had no idea what to think about it, but I knew I couldn’t do anything else. I’d warned him right from the start that it could happen, and even though it was a lot sooner than I’d anticipated I thought he would understand and accept. When we were with the other four lads they’d all done their best to keep me (and Nath) distracted, taking us bowling and out to dinner where jokes were the main course and teasing dessert. But underneath all their effort to keep us from thinking about it too much I noticed their sympathetic glances, the frowns on their faces when they looked between Nathan and I, which I’m not going to lie didn’t make any sense to me; we were just friends.

The night Nathan dropped me back after bowling was two days before I was due to leave, he’d told me then that he was going to drop me off at the barracks and I’d agreed knowing that I would be spending some last quality time with my family the next day. Like always he hugged and kissed my forehead before returning to the car waiting at the side of the road. I didn’t know what to think when he gave me so many mixed emotions.

~

And so the morning came where I was due to leave, Codie, Sandy and Daniel were all meeting me at the barracks since I’d told them Nathan was giving me a lift, even though they teased me about it I could tell that they felt sorry for us; just as we had started to develop something I was going away for goodness knows how long, with the only way of contacting through letters.

The day before my family had come over to help me pack and go out for dinner together, I had been good but sad at the same time, it only kicked in then just how much I was going to miss them. We’d said our goodbyes when they had left, and even though they had been hard I didn’t worry too much because I was positive I would be back to see them again, and that was the thought I held on to as they drove away waving, fake smiles plastered on all three of their faces, which of course I could tell because I knew them so well.

At six in the morning the doorbell rang and I knew exactly who it was, I’d been up for a while now not being able to sleep so I was more than happy to have some company. Opening the door Nathan’s smiling face greeted me, I felt like I’d been kicked in the stomach knowing that this would be the last time for a while I would see him like this. “Are you ready?” he asked, I nodding walking into the hall to grab my ready and waiting packed bag, it was heavier than I was used to but nothing I couldn’t manage. I turned to look at the apartment I called home one last time, saying goodbye to my little safe haven before turning off the light and following Nathan out the door to the car.