"Do you have to go Papa?" 8 year old Madison asks her father. Charles looks down and sighs.
"Maddy honey. We discussed this last week." He begins. "Papa has to go away so he can protect you from the evil things in this world. Remember I told you to be my brave little girl." Tears begin to escape Madison's big green eyes. Charles pulls his small daughter into a tight hug "Be brave for Papa. I promise I'll come home soon and we will go to your favorite park and we can play there all day" he promises. Madison looks up at him
"Please don't go Papa.... What... What if the evil people send you to heaven?" She cries. Poor Madison didn't understand why her father had to go to this thing called war. All she understood was that it was scary.
Charles kisses Madison's head and stands up "I have to go pumpkin. It's my job. Go to sleep now darling. When you wake up I'll be gone and your Aunt Emma will be here. She will take care of you. You'll have fun I promise" he says and tries to keep a happy smile but it was hard. There was a possibility he could die out there in battle. He couldn't let that happen. Jessibelle, his wife and Madison's mother, had died and if he did too then Madison would be an orphan.
"Papa are you ok?" A voice rings through Charles thoughts.
"Yes pumpkin I'm fine." He responds distantly. Charles turns towards the clock and frowns. It was 8:15 PM already past Madison's bedtime. "Come on Maddy" he says and picks the child up. She clings to him tightly and yawns "Ok Papa" she says feeling sleep grip her. Her eyelids were heavy and hard to keep open.
Carrying Madison to her room Charles feels a sense of dread for tomorrow. He wasn't looking forward to going overseas but it couldn't be helped. After he tucks Madison into bed he heads to his own bed regretting his used to be eager decision to join the military.
