The Aftermath

Returning Home

June 5th 1940

I had been waiting so long for this war to end. It may have only been for nine days but it was the longest, excruciating period of time that I couldn't wait to come to an end. I had waited for Tommy at the platform, just hoping to see his smiling face come off the train. My hands clasped to my chest and my heart racing, I stood up on my tiptoes to see over the heads of a few people. As each man in uniform went by, I grew more anxious. The only thing on my mind was that I would be waiting here for nothing and he hadn't made it out alive.

My hands dropped to my side and tears filled my eyes at the sight of what could be my brother.

"Sara," He exclaimed. "I'm Home." We ran to each other with tears streaming down our faces. I couldn't believe he made it home. I wrapped my arms around his torso while his found themselves looped around my upper back. I sobbed in his chest thanking whatever God above that Tommy made it home safe. I stepped back and my hands found their way to his cheek. I inspected the skin and only found a few scrapes and let out a sigh of relief.

"You're home safe. Mom's going to be so happy she can't stand!" We both let out a small chuckle. My eyes flickered over Tommy's shoulder at a rather tall boy in uniform stared at us quite awkwardly. "Looking for someone, mate?" My eyebrow raised in confusion, my hands rasing to wipe the tears from my cheeks.

"Actually, yes I am. I was looking around for my mom and sister. they should be near here I would think." He continued looking around. I cleared my throat and gave Tommy a confused look.

"Oh, Sara this is a friend, I guess you could say. meet Harry." He smiled and nodded his head toward the boy.

As I mustered up a half smile, Harry reached his hand out to take mine. I willingly gave it to him and he brought it to his lips for a brief moment. "Please to meet you, Sara. You must be Tom's little sister." I nodded and dropped my hand out of his.

"sure. Well if you don't mind, I'll be getting Tommy home. Mom will just be so excited to see you. You know, a lot of men didn't make it out of there? tommy, I'm just so happy you're home." I practically squealed as I hugged his torso once more, giving him a good squeeze.

"Alright mate. I better get out of here. You know how to contact me. Tommy Hensley. 718 Kings Dominion Avenue." Harry gave him a slight nod and a smile before turning to find his family somewhere in the crowd. "Let's get home Sara. I can't wait to see her."

We smiled, finding a buggy and taking it home. the ride was a bit longer than we wanted but Tommy caught me up on what the war was like for him.

"Well, I met Harry after the boat he was on was struck by a bomb." He sighed. "That happened more often than I'd like to admit but it is war after all. Then we had to board another ship. that ship got hit by a torpedo. Luckily Gibson, a French man trying to get over here and get away from the massive lunacy, saved our asses so many times, I can't count. for a while there, I thought Harry was a complete Ass but he helped me out a few times. Not as often as Gibson. Poor mate didn't make it out of the ship we hid in for a while. Filled with water and mate was the last one out." He frowned and did so too.

"Did he have a family?" I asked. I was curious about these things. I was lucky enough to get my brother back but unfortunately for his family, he's lost. All I got out of Tommy was a shake of his head as he lowered it. he let out a sob that racked his chest entirely.

"He really helped me out there. I wish I could've done something to save him but I just couldn't. Without him, I wouldn't be home. I wouldn't be alive if he hadn't found that beam to hid on under the bridge. I wouldn't be alive had he not opened that door and let me out before I drowned. He was a life saver." I shushed him and brought his shaking body to my chest, worried deeply that this would be something I'd have to get used to. I brushed my hands through his hair and I kissed the top of his head.

Shortly after, we had arrived home. The driver had nodded and thanked Tommy for his service and we went in the house. We lived in a small building with four flats total. We lived on the top left one. It was Tommy and I as well as my mom Liz, my dad Aaron and my sister Evangeline. it was a three bedroom living area. My mom and dad shared the biggest room. My sister kept the smallest room. Tommy has the extra bedroom and I took the cot in the living room. It wasn't the comfiest or the roomiest place to live but we functioned quite well, the five of us.

"Mom, I'm home." I heard small feet running from the back of the flat down the hall and into the room.

"Tommy! You're home. I missed you." She ran up to him with her arms up and laughed. Tommy picked her up and squeezed her tight. She was only 11 and didn't quite understand where he went off to and what he was doing. She kissed his cheek and he sat her down. "Tommy, you needed a bath." That made a slight giggle escape my lips and I placed my hand over my mouth to stifle it.

A huge gasp came from our right and a cry of joy came out of our mother. She ran up and hugged Tommy. She kissed his cheeks, his head and hugged him once more. She was ecstatic and wouldn't let go. While still hugging mom, dad came in with a big grin on his face and held his hand out.

"Pleasure to have you back my boy. thank you for your service to this country." Tommy accepted Aaron's hand in a firm shake.

"Now if you don't mind mom, I need to take a good hot bath and wipe off this nasty grime. what do you say?" She chuckled and nodded, motioning to the bathroom for him to go ahead as she cleared his path.

Most of us, all except Evangeline, didn't get much sleep these last few days. I could tell Tommy didn't want to be bothered anymore about the war stories for today considering he just got back and all. Mom and Dad gave a quick smile before headed back to their room to get some shut-eye. Evangeline giggled and sat on my cot with a big smile.

"Rose, did you see any cute boys?" She questioned and I blushed a little, laughing.

"Van, of course, I did. I can't help but love a man in uniform." I smiled but I shook my head. "How are you 11 and already worried about boys?" she just smiled and ran off to her room.

I sighed and laid down on the cot and looked up at the ceiling. I noticed it was in desperate need of repair. I shrugged it off and crossed my hands over my stomach, gently tapping my index finger against the back of my hand. "What is war really like," I thought to myself. Tragic, I'm sure of it. but also, riveting? Two countries going to war over something entirely avoidable. but maybe it isn't. Maybe it's them doing what they think is truly life. It didn't matter to me what the reasoning behind it was. I knew it was ruining someone's life somewhere.