Don't Give Up on Me

Chapter 5: Letters

It was almost a week since Y/N had last spoken to Harrison. Throughout that week, she felt drawn to the Osterfield's home. She had stayed so late one evening that she spent the night in Harrison's bed. Memories of the nights leading up to his deployment came rushing to her mind just like a flood, and it caused her heart to ache. The ache didn't last very long as sleep slowly creeped up on her and her eyelids fell shut. She dreamed every night of the day that Harrison came home. It was what woke her up in the morning. Each night of sleep and rest was one day closer to his return, and it being less than a month now, the anticipation fueled every fiber of her being.

She woke up the next morning and put on the blue sweater that Harrison had given her. She sat on the floor leaning up against the bed. She began reading "Catch-22" when she heard light scratches on the door. As far as she knew, no one was home. She awkwardly walked over to the door and slowly opened it. Y/N was quickly greeted by Monty, and she pet him and said hello before returning to her original position on the floor. Monty walked around Harrison's room sniffing around looking for his master. When no signs of Harrison could be found, Monty made his way over to Y/N and laid down beside her while placing his head in her lap. He let out a sigh, as if to say that he missed Harrison.

"I know, Monts. I miss him too." Y/N rubbed the base of his right ear as he drifted off to sleep.

Y/N continued reading when she heard the front door open. It was Harrison's mother, and Y/N decided that she should see if there was anything she could help her with.

"You spend the night, dear?" She asked while entering the kitchen.

"Yeah, it was late and I didn't think it would be wise to go home." Y/N replied as she neared the kitchen counter.

"Well you can stay the night whenever you'd li-" The response was cut short by the door bell ringing.

"I'll be right back." Mrs. Osterfield let Y/N know as she made her way to the front door.

While Y/N was getting a glass of water, she heard the woman yell "no" in a way that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

–

Mrs. Osterfield opened her front door to see a gentleman not much older than her dressed in the Corps of Royal Marines uniform. She looked at the man quizzically.

"Is this the Osterfield Residence?" The man politely asked.

"Yes, it is. Can I help you with something, sir?" She kindly asked.

"Ma'am, your son Harrison went out on a mission almost a week ago. When his unit failed to reach the rendezvous point, they sent out a search party." The man solemnly explained.

"Okay..." The information had not quite registered in the matriarch's mind.

"I regret to inform you that your son and his unit were hit with an IED, and there weren't any survivors. We weren't able to recover his remains from the wreckage, but we did find his tags and letters. I am very sorry ma'am." He handed her a large envelope containing his dog tags and letters.

"No!" She yelled as the news registered that her son would not be coming home.

"On behalf of the Corps of the Royal Marines, England, and the Queen, we thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice. Your son is a hero." He gave her a brief salute and walked away.

Y/N walked over to find the mother slowly sinking to the ground. She knew that whatever news the mother was given couldn't have been good news, and she knelt beside the matriarch and embraced her.