Charlie

Chapter Eleven: The day my heart broke

It was early in the morning and I was getting ready for school. "Hey beautiful do you want coffee?" Charlie called out from the kitchen. "Yes, baby can you pour me a cup?"

I walked out of my room with my backpack on and a long jacket, mittens, a scarf and fuzzy hat on it was January and it will very cold outside. "Baby girl it isn't storming outside." "Sweetheart I'm cold" Charlie just laughed at me because I was over dressed. Charlie made me some oatmeal and offered to take me to school so I would be so cold.

We then heard a loud knock on the front door. It made us both jump a little. We never have visitors especially this early in the morning. Charlie put on a shirt and went to answer the door. When Charlie answered the door all of the color drained from his face.

The person at the door let himself in. "Senior Airman Charles Edward Abernathy?" "Yes, that's me" Charlie answered. The two men at the door were MP's (Military Police). Charlie saluted them and asked what was going on?

The first MP spoke, "Senior Airmen Abernathy, we have reason to believe that you have gone AWOL." "Sir, I have not I have completed all of my designated paperwork and turned them into my Commanding Officer Captain Andrews. "Senior Airman Abernathy I have to take you into the J.R.C.F. I stayed there silent and in shock. "I'll go with you but may I speak to my future wife first?"

"As long as you stay within our viewing site." "I'm going just right here to the kitchen. "My love" Charlie came up to me. I was started to shake and he held me tight and told me.

"Baby girl listen to me carefully, this is just a misunderstanding, I'll be back home soon. In the meantime, please call my parents and tell them what is happening." Please tell them to take you to the J.R.C.F. This is where I'll be held and where they can pick me up. They have to pick me up there." I nodded because that is the only thing I could do.

My heart felt as if it was shattering into a million pieces. Charlie gave me a ferocious kiss I could feel that he was scared and shaking. It made me feel worse than I had already felt. I didn't know if I'd ever see the man I loved with all of my broken heart.

The Military Police came and pulled us apart and I saw a lonely tear fall from Charlie's eye. I ran outside to see him put in the back seat if their sedan. I saw it drove off and I just folded over on our porch pouring tears out of my eyes. I knew the love of my life was just taken away. I was in love with a criminal.

As soon as gained my composure and the freezing cold weather finally hit me I went inside. I got my cellphone and called the Abernathy's. Carol and Alex Abernathy. As I my hands where shaking so hard it was hard to actually get to my contact to call Charlie's parents. The phone rang what felt like forever before Carol answered. "Mom?" "Yes Re-Anne, what's the matter?" "Mom they took Charlie." "What? "I started crying so hard Carol could barely understand me.

"Mom, they Military Police came and took Charlie." "Charlie said for you to go to J.R.C.F I think were what he said." "Sweetie, what did they say they were taking him in for?" "Mama, for being AWOL." "Re-Ann you stay put we are going to go get you and then go to see Charlie." "Mom I can go to you." "Sweetie, you are in no way to drive." "Baby we will be there as soon as we can." "In the meantime, call a friend to come over." "Ok mama."

I dialed Ashley's number and I asked her if she had any plans right now and she told me she didn't. I asked her if she could come over to my house. At least for the next three hours I needed her. "Yes, Re-Ann I'll be right over, are you ok?" "No, Ashely I'm not."

Within the next ten minutes Ashley was knocking at my door. When I heard the knock, I jumped up out of my sofa chair. I answered the door, and Ashley pulled me into a hug as soon as I opened the door. I didn't even have to say a word and she was already comforting me.

"Re-Ann, what happened?" I tried to talk but all that could come out was a stuttering mess. "They took Charlie" "Who took Charlie?" "The MPs, Ashley they took him away in handcuffs. They said he was AWOL., Ashley he isn't he finished his time in the service." I didn't understand what was going on.

All I knew was that I was in so much emotional pain that it felt physical. It really did feel as if someone stepped on chest and kicked me in my ribs. The three-hour drive that it takes to get from our hometown to our house was in Providence took Charlies parents two hours. Ashley held me while we sat on the sofa. I felt so lost and scared. I didn't know what was going to happen to the love of my life.

Carol walked into the house, crying and shaking too. I knew I had to suck my pain and be there for her. She was a mess and I knew she would be hurting just as much as I was. I knew I had to help her and calm her down. Charlie's dad Alex came in right after Carol.

"Re-Anne sweetie where did they say they were going to take Charlie?" "He said something like J.R.C.F?" "Woah, that is in Kansas. They will probably take him to the closest Joint base which I believe is close to Boston and then fly him out tonight." "Mr. Abernathy?" "Alex darling just Alex" "will he be ok?" I asked? "Yes, sweetie he will"

Mr. Abernathy was always calm and collective. It wasn't that he wasn't concerned about his youngest it was that he knew that he would be ok. Alex took out his laptop and booked us three one way tickets to KCI. He also made reservations to the closest hotel to the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

I packed as much stuff that would fit my suitcase. Mr. Abernathy told us that we would head out to the airport in the morning. "Can I go to my campus and ask for a leave of absence?" "Yes, baby, take Ashley with you, I don't want you going anywhere by yourself." "Ok Mom" I went to see my guidance counselor Mrs. Thatcher and told her the story.

She said that I could take a three week leave of absence without it hurting my grades or progress. I left the office with Ashley, and we got back to my house. When we walked up to the steps. "Ashley said, do you need me to stay?" I said "No, thank you for everything and for being here for me when I needed you." "I'll see you in three weeks, I'll come check on the house once a week ok?" "Oh yeah, thank you."

Iwent inside and went to my room and I called my mom. "Mama, they took Charlie."I burst out in tears again. I explained everything to my mom and she understoodbecause she loved Charlie so much. I told her that the Abernathy's were hereand our plans on going to see if we can bring back Charlie. My heart hurt allnight long, I cried myself to sleep knowing that my Charlie was somewhere aloneand scared.