A Part of Something Special

Two Weeks

I sat down at the kitchen table and folded my hands, "Okay, let's talk." I talked first, because Finn doesn't talk a lot, unless it's in response to someone else. "This is how I see it, Finn. You've left me several times like this. And those days without you- they're the hardest days of my life, but I got through it. But now we have Allen. And A: I don't think he can do without you. And B: I don't think I can do without you, now that we have him. I know you signed up for this. I get that this is your job, but damn it, Finn- you have a family now." Finn looked down as though he was ashamed. I was crying at this point. "I know," his voice was scratchy as though he was about to cry, too. "I love you, Rachel. And I love Allen. You know that. But it's six months, which is half as long as I left last time. And like you said, it's my job. We'll write everyday. But we also need the money." Tears were streaming down my face at this point, "I just don't want to loose you." "I don't either, Rachel." He grabbed my hand and kissed it, then continued holding it. "When would you leave?" I forced those words out of my mouth because I didn't really want to know. "Two weeks." Finn was crying, again, too. "So in two weeks, you want to leave your wife and your four month old son to fight in an environment that your dad died in half way across the world? That's the only choice you have?" "Yes."