The Exchange Student

memories

Its 12:00 at night and my mind is wizzing.

Tommy, my brother, in a coma. This is dad all over again.

Flashback-

"Do you really have to go daddy?" I asked as I held onto my fathers sleave.

"Sadly I do Pumpkin." He said caressing the side of my head.

I was only young when he left. Eight I was and my brother was ten.

Everyone thought I didnt understand anything that was happening, to bad they were wrong.

My father got up and stood in front of my brother.

"Son, youll be the man of the house now so look after the woman." My father said.

"Yes sir." My brother said trying to hold back his tears.

"Hey, hey, hey. Dont cry." My father said leaning down to hug my brother.

I stood there, tears rolling down my cheeks.

My mother standing next to me who looks like a total wreck.

Dad soon got up and walked to mum.

"Ill be home before you know it." He said embracling her in a hug.

"Then no more." She said into his shoulder.

"Then no more." He promised.

We all waved goodbye at the front of our door step as we saw our father get ready to go to war.

I couldnt take it anymore and ran out to him once more.

"Daddy dont go." I yelled jumping into his arms.

"Shhh. Pumpkin look at me." He ushered.

I looked up at him.

"Always remember Ill come back. Even if Im on a different planet Ill always come back. You and your brother are my everything and Im nothing without my everything."

"But what if you dont come back." I argued.

"Ill always come back one way or another." He smiled.

He then kissed my forehead and drove away.

Away from his home, his life, his everything.

End of flashback.

I sit on my bed with the light on, just staring at the wall.

It 12:50 now and my mind is still racing.

Flashbacks coming from all directions.

Flashback 2:

"Happy birthday pumpkin." My father said through the computer.

Its my ninth birthday and I havent seen my dad since he had left, and that was a year ago.

"Thanks dad." I smiled.

"When are you coming back." My brother asked as he sat next to me.

"Um year about that. I think Im going to have to stay a bit longer." He said sadly.

"But youve been away for a whole year." I said.

"I know but once I finish this one trip Ill be home for good." He said.

"Promise?" Me and my brother asked.

"I promise." He said holding out his pinky finger to the camera.