Call Me Anna

Chapter 6-Reality

Henry and I got along perfectly, always best friends. That sounded ridiculous and cheesy and unrealistic, even to my own ears. But somehow, it was true. 

That summer was the best summer of my life, the warm sunny days and bright relationship all contributing to making it as good as it was.

It seemed to me that it would never end, and the world would continue in the short days that we had together. Because we only had a few days together, as it turned out. My year round occupation was safe, normal. His... well, I knew it was coming. I just forgot.

It was late August, and we were together, like usual. Hand in hand, we strolled through my back roads. Henry was especially silent that day, and I was just starting to wonder why. Not that he was ever very loud... but this was too much for me.

"Okay, what's wrong?" I finally said.

He looked up, startled out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" he said. I shook my head at him.

"You! You're so quiet today!"

Henry finally smiled down at my frustrated face.

"It's nothing. It's just that, well," he took a breath before facing me again. "I'm leaving next week. My break is over, I'm going back."

I let that sink in for a minute.

"You mean to the army?" I finally asked.

"Navy. But yes, I am," he corrected.

"Oh." I didn't know how else to respond to that. I found myself unconsciously taking a step closer to him. It was so soon. How had time passed so quickly?

"I wish-" he started, before cutting himself off. I looked up at him, question written on my face. He let out a sigh. "I wish this didn't have to happen."

I paused, eyes meeting his. We were both serious. "Is this you breaking up with me?" I asked, flat out. 

"No," he said, and I saw a hint of the smile I'd grown to love so much. It disappeared almost as fast as it came "But I can't be here."

"Good," I said with relief. Then I thought about what I had said. "No, not good," I countered my previous statement. "That you're leaving I mean. But it's good that... never mind."

He just laughed, but it wasn't as light and carefree as most days. He didn't really want to go. But at the same time, he did.

I said nothing.

Henry gone? What would I do with myself? The summer was almost over so I'd be going back to school any week now and all this would be nothing but a memory. Sure, he said we weren't breaking up, but I'd seen plenty of friends at school try to maintain long distance relationships. The chances of us surviving this was small, they would be even if this was a normal situation and he was going back to college too.

But it wasn't. This was anything but normal.

I tried not to show my inner turmoil. 

A few minutes passed of silence, this time me as well as him.

He nudged me with his shoulder. "Now you're being too quiet. What's up?"

"You already know," I said, turning to look at him. I was almost glaring.

He didn't have an answer for that, it was clear. But he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer as we walked. There was still so much running through my head, but just his touch managed to calm me down. He was everything I'd never known I needed in my life, even if I'd only known him for a summer. 

How on earth was I going to survive the last few days here, much less entire year of school, without this?

I took a deep breath. "You want to know something funny?"

"What?" he said, taking the bait.

I half smiled. "Have you ever noticed that you always repeat my questions?"

He let out a laugh and looked over at me. I'd caught him off guard. "Do I?"

"You do," I confirmed with a businesslike nod. 

"Maybe I'll work on that while I'm gone. You know, mix things up a little."

I flashed him something between a smirk and a smile, giving him a thumbs up. "You could make a list."

"I'll never be bored again," he laughed, rolling his eyes.

"And you'll keep thinking about me," I said. "Mission accomplished."

"Anna?"

"Yes?"

"We still have a few days. Make the most of them, don't be sad."

"I think I'll do that."

He finally smiled for real. "Good."