ETA

Day Eighty Nine

"Control your kid please," I muttered to the lady with a screaming toddler.

"Kids will be kids," she smiled.

I scoffed, "more like shitty parenting."

I just realized this was the carnival all over again. Except this time Mason wasn't here to hold me back. He couldn't tell me to control my anger and that punching children wasn't a good idea.

I suddenly missed Mason a lot more than I have lately. Bringing up the old memory brought tears to my eyes and I had to look away from the woman.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

She sighed, "if you would of met me six years ago I probably would of punched you by now. You actually remind me of myself."

The woman ran a hand through her curly blonde locks. She looked stressed.

"I am quick tempered I'm sorry, I'm just not in a good place. I haven't been in three years now," I muttered.

"My name is Laycie, and for the record this isn't my kid. It's my brother's, he is coming home from being in Afghanistan today," she smiled.

My heart clenched at her words. "I'm Amber, sorry for insulting your nephew. I'm waiting for someone in the army too, except unlike you I'm not positive he's coming back today," I returned the greeting.

"Are you here out of wishful thinking?"

"I'm starting to think so."

The little boy in her arms had calmed down and was slowly drifting off, "he'll be fine."

I looked at her skeptical. She couldn't possibly know that. But I knew he wouldn't leave me.

"Trust me, I was you the first time my brother left. I would just randomly go to the airport and wait for him or cry in his room," she said.

I could tell those were dark times for her. Her purple eyes took on a different look when she talked about it. Wait? Purple? Did I just say purple?

I did a double take and she laughed, "no they aren't contacts."

"That's so cool!" I marveled.

She laughed again at how excited I was. I've never seen purple eyes in my life.

"Oh there's my brother. I hope he comes back safely, I don't really need to say that because I know he will," she smiled.

"Nice meeting you Laycie," I smiled back.

"You too Amber."

She woke up the sleeping kid and when he saw his dad he brightened up.

Laycie's brother engulfed him in a big hug and a bunch of people awed. He grabbed Laycie in a hug next and she nearly cried. The scene was heart warming and gave me hope that Mason was going to come back.