My Soldier, My Hero

Chapter 2

He called and asked her to meet him at the park, at their swings.

That's where she finds him. Sitting by himself, sadly swinging back and forth. His hood is pulled up over his mop of curls and his hands are tucked into the pocket of his grey sweats.

"Hey." She says softly, standing in front of him. She leans against the swingset looking at his sad face with a worried expression. "What's wrong?"

"Told my family." His voice is rough, and he sniffles.

"You what?" She chokes on her words. Her worried expression turns cold, angry,

"I told my family." He nods, frowning as he looks up at her. "Don't look at me like that." He sighs, looking back down.

"I'm sorry, I just thought we decided that we weren't going to tell anyone until you enlist." She says crossing her arms in front of her chest.

He doesn't respond, avoids eye contact, and shakes his head.

"You enlisted didn't you." She nods standing in front of him. He still doesn't respond. "Damn it Shawn, you have to answer me." She snaps.

He looks up and can see her tears about to fall. He reaches out and grabs her waist, so she stands between his legs.

"Yeah." He swallows. "I enlisted."

She inhales and closes her eyes, trying hard not to cry.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asks looking down at him.

"I am telling you."

"After you told your family, we agreed to tell them together. So I could be there for you."

"I know, but I just needed to get it off my chest."

"Sure." She says turning to walk away from him.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"I need a second." She raises her voice.

"You need a second? What about me?"

"Stop taking things away from me Shawn!"

"What am I taking away from you?"

"You are leaving! You are leaving me!" She yells, tears falling now. He's standing across from her, and his gaze softens as her voice dies off. "You are leaving. Made that choice without me. Then you take away my chance to be there to hold your hand as you tell your parents and sister that you are leaving."

"I just-"

"No you took that away from me. You said that this was our life. Our life, and so far it's only yours. I have had no opinion or placement in it. I'm merely just a bystander watching you making all of these decisions that scare the crap out of me."

"Babe." He sighs taking a step forward reaching for her hand.

"No!" She whips her hand back. "You don't," She sighs. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to comfort me. Not right now."

He watches as she walks away from him. He just stands in the middle of the bark chips watching the love his life fall apart in front of him. He can't even get himself to move his legs to go after her.

He just takes a seat in the middle of the playground, bringing his knees to his chest and crying.

**

"Shawn?"

He looks over his shoulder to find Aaliyah walking up to him.

"What are you doing?"