Change The Bad Girl

Chapter Thirty-Six.

Y/N POV

I'm free!

My discharge ceremony is over now I am free to go home and be with my loved ones. I am grateful for everything that I've experienced while being in the Marine Corps. Now I'm gonna take some of these lessons and apply them to my life as a civilian. Hopefully I've become a man that kids and my parents can be proud of.

I went back into my barrack and gathered my bags. It was a bit of a bittersweet moment, you spend so much time in a place and it becomes home, it's kinda hard to say goodbye to it. I went into the rec room and the members of my squad were there to give me a proper send off. Each one of them gave me a hug and gave me their best wishes.

"Alright, if y'all ever make a stop in New Orleans, holler at me." I said.

"I'll only come by if you hook us up with that gumbo you make homes." Suarez said.

"I got you man." I said.

"Semper Fi, brother." Jenkins said.

I shook his hand and smiled, "Semper Fi, brother."

After I bid everyone goodbye I walked out of my barracks and outside of the gate where my ride to the airport was waiting for me. I got in and let out a deep breath, another step closer to getting home. Once I got to the airport I got my things out of the car and walked into the airport terminal. I stood in the long line and waited for my ticket to be checked. To kill some time I called Bubba and let him now that I'll be landing back in New Orleans in a few hours.

I walked to the front of the line and handed the woman my ticket. She looked at my wedding band and smiled, "How long?"

"Two years." I said.

"Kids?" She asked.

"Three boys. It's my oldest son's birthday and he doesn't know I'm gonna be there for it." I said.

"That's beautiful sir. I know that little guy is gonna have the best birthday ever."

"I hope so." I said.

The desk clerk handed me back my ticket and said, "Your ticket has been upgraded to first class, thank you for your service and have a safe flight home."

I let out a sigh and smiled, "Thank you."

I grabbed my bangs and took them to bag check, I had a little time to spare so I went to Starbucks and got myself a tall cup of coffee. While I was in the line getting ready to pay for my drink a teenage girl stepped up and offered to pay for my drink. I asked her why she did and she said that her older brother was a Marine and he always paid for someone's drink when goes out and now she's doing the same. The smallest acts of kindness can do so much for a person.

After I got my tall, dark cup of coffee I sat down and waited for my flight number to get called. Once it got called I got up and walked to my plane. The checked my ticket and waited for the line to move so I could get to my seat. I took off my cap and closed my eyes for a moment. Almost home, I just gotta make it through five hours on this plane. I was drifting away into my own little world when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and there was an older white gentleman wearing one of those veteran baseball caps with the ribbons on  it.

"Yes sir?"

He held out his hand and I gave him a firm handshake. "Thank you for your service young man."

"Thank you for service, sir." I replied.

"Parris Island?" He asked.

"Yes sir." I said.

"Hoo rah, I went there a long time ago and I still say that it was the best decision I ever made." He said.

The older gentleman sat in the seat across from me and on the flight back home he shared what his experience was like when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. It was honestly the coolest thing I had experienced in a long time. A perfect stranger become a new friend on a flight back home. Before I knew it we were preparing for landing. I buckled my seat belt, put my cap back on, and prepared for my least favorite part of flying. The pilot got on the intercom and made an announcement too.