Heaven's Cry

The Ball

I looked at myself in the mirror, my hair was curled and hanging down my back with the sides pinned to the back. My dress was white and flared over my bump and I wore small black 2 inch heels.

I applied pink lip gloss and made my way out my room grabbing my purse and sweater. Tara had been ready 5 minutes ago and was waiting for me in the car.

On the elevator ride down my stomach started to flutter.

I don't know if I cam do this.

My eyes pooled and I took out tissue and dabbed them making sure not to ruin my makeup. I rubbed my bump, if I couldn't do this for myself, I'd do it for our baby.

I reached the car and buckled myself in.

"You look so beautiful Ly. Are you ready"

I rubbed my bump and nodded giving her a little smile .

I will never be ready.

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After a 10 minute wait to gather myself in the car after pulling up to the hall, I made my way inside with Tara linked to my arm. After showing our invitations and getting name tags we were ushered to our table. There sat a man with blonde hair and tanned skin with a woman equally as beautiful, a woman who was petite with orange hair that was braided back, another couple that couldn't keep their hands off each other, a black and white guy who watched the women on the dancefloor and another man with light brown skin in his uniform who, unlike the other men, stared at the changing LED light that floated in the centerpiece on the table.

When I pulled out my chair, his eyes snapped from the light to my eyes. His face was set straight and he held my eye contact. I looked down and took my place at the table next to Tara. Looking back up at the man, his gaze was back on the light in the centerpiece.

Is he okay?

He seemed not interested in anything going on around him, only the light that changed color.

"Hey I gotta pee, let me know if any guy looks at my ass on the way out." Tara said standing and swishing her way to the door.

I laughed as I noticed 7 guys turn their heads to watch her ass.

I looked forward and the guy who was watching the light, was now watching me. I flicked my eyes to the dancefloor then back to him to find him watching me still. I looked down at his uniform to his name tag.

Zion Jay

"So did they look?" Tara came back sitting down. "Yup I caught 7 looking." I answered back.

After pointing to who I caught Tara pulls my arm. "Come on! I wanna go dance!"

"No no, you can go dance, I think I'll stay here." I tried shaking from her grip.

"No lets go." I got up as she pulled me towards the dance floor.
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It felt good to dance with Tara again. It reminded me of old times. When the slow song came on me and Tara froze.

"What the fuck I wasn't done." I laughed "Its fine lets g-"

A man came up behind Tara and tapped her arm. He was tall and built in a uniform. His hair was brown in a buzz cut and he was cute. Tara turned around and her mouth parted.

"Hi, I see you don't have a date here besides your friend." He look at me then his eyes dropped to my bump. "I've been watching you and I knew I had to come over here for a dance. May I? " He asked holding out his arm. Tara took it and turned to look at me with the biggest smile. I laughed and motioned that I was going back to the table. I took one step back before crashing into something. I turned to find it wasn't a something it was a someone.

Zion.

"I'm so sorry, I should watch where I'm going." I apologized.

My stomach was fluttering and I instantly felt sick. "Oh god no." I kicked off my heels, covered my mouth, and bolted for the bathroom. After vomiting I came out the stall to find Zion standing in the bathroom. I almost caught a heart attack.

"What the fuck?! Oh my god you can go sneaking up on people like that, I didn't even hear you walk in! I rested my elbows on the counter to wash my mouth out, then I realized. "What are you doing in the girls bathroom?" He moved his hands from behind his back with both of my shoes in them. "Oh thanks." I said taking them from him while he nodded his head. I took out my lipgloss and reapplied it and popped a piece of gum in my mouth. Zion watched every movement.

"Is there something I can help you with?" He shook his head. "You don't talk much do you?" He shrugged his shoulder.

"I'm Zion." He said to me. His voice was deep, deeper than Tyler's. "Well I know that already." He seemed surprised like I caught him off guard. "Your name tag." I replied pointing to it. He looked down "Oh yeah, right." I tilted my head in confusion.

"What is it?" I asked. He seemed off and awkward. "Nothing. Are you ready?" He asked grabbing the door handle. I walked toward him and nodded. He opened the door and we walked out.

A few people watched us walk out of the bathroom together, a group of guys smiled and 2 women shook their heads. We walked past a table with 5 girls and they looked up and their eyes grew big at the sight of Zion as they followed him with their eyes. He seemed to catch the eye of a lot of females on the way back to the table. He pulled my chair back and when I sat he scooted it back in.

"Yeah as I was saying before running to the bathroom, in sorry about bumping into you, I'm a clumsy person."

"Its okay. Are you sure you're alright though?" I nodded and our conversation was cut off by the microphone. A women in a red dress was on stage now by the memorial of fallen soldiers. The dancefloor cleared and Tara returned to her seat next to me.

"Hello, my name is Missy. I would like to thank everyone for coming out here tonight and give the biggest thank the soldiers who went to war for this country. Now is the time of night to pay respects to those that have fallen." She walked off the stage and a video started to play. First it showed pictures of every fallen soldier. When Tyler's picture popped onto the screen my eyes started to puddle. He was so handsome my Tyler. Tara grabbed my hand and gave me a reassuring smile with her eyes glossy from forming tears.

Videos then started to play of the goofy moments all the soldiers would have while at base. Them dancing and talking, playing pranks, and laughing. Then videos of each fallen soldier started to play. They were answering different questions about life and about war. When Tyler's came on i felt the sickness in my stomach and the drop of my heart come to place. It was the first time I heard his voice in months. His question was when is the moment you regret joining the military.