Military Lilly

home coming

   After he hung up my heart began to pound again. Is the house clean enough? Should I make him a big dinner or just something warm?  What should i wear? All of these thoughts started racing through my head at once all of these questions I needed to answer.  Eventually, I decide that I'll go with whatever recipe pops in my head first while I get dressed.  Walking back down the short hall to the bedroom my bare feet making soft noises against the wood floor. Stepping through the doorway to the bedroom I can almost feel a difference in the air. It's almost like someone is standing in the room with me. My eyes scan the room quickly stopping on an old rocking chair we've had since we moved in. Backing away a bit I watch A shadow form on the chair slowly forming a man. I can't tell who he is but the place where his eyes once was are now two dark blue holes. His face is wrapped or so I think I can not really tell..but I can hear a raspy jagged voice in my head.
"Zip up. Under your tongue. Don't cry. Be brave."
I'm so afraid and confused I can't make any sense of what is going on here. Just as quickly as it appeared it disappeared and I am left staring at the chair like an idiot for what feels like ever. Opening the closet I rummage through his clothes. I know he is coming home today so for now maybe I'll wear one of his hoodies and a pair of leggings. Ugh...this man I love him yo death but he has so many hoodies I can't decide which one to wear. Moving a blue one over I see it. My favorite hoodie of his...that one he was wearing when he asked me to marry him. It feels like a cotton blend the color being the same shade green as the logo on my Starbucks cup.  Bright white lettering on the front 'US army' i pair it with some camo leggings and throw my long strawberry blonde hair up in a messy bun.
Starring at myself in the mirror I don't know what he sees in me. I'm only maybe five foot and weigh about 190 pounds so I'm not a skinny pretty girl but he still looks at me like I'm a goddess...that is when he is home.  That's when I notice it. His hoodie..its a zip up. That..whatever it was must have been warning me..but warning me about what?
     I must have been standing here awhile because there is a knock on the front door and the dog walker normally gets here around 11:12. Almost running to the door opening it I glare at my brother standing there with his camera out and pointed at me.
"What are you doing Brendon?"
"What does it look like I'm doing lil sis im filming your...not so pretty self"
"Shut up I didn't have a reason to dress nice for now let me have a lazy moment."
He is smiling that idiot smile of his I know he is up to somethin i just can't put my finger on it. I don't have time to think about what he is up to because he becomes very concerned very quickly.
"Sis? Your pale. I mean like paler than you normally are. Girl sit down..", something in his voice, does he know?
  Sitting down I don't look him in the eye I never have been able to he looks too much like our father.
"what is it?", I don't mean to sound irritated but I do.
"Have you been seeing ghosts again?"
"Again??"
Jack is barking like crazy behind me but when I turn to look my brother yanks my arm making me look at him. Now I'm worried not only is he acting weird but he won't let me take care of my dog.
"This is serious"
"You're crazy I've never seen ghosts"
"....sis..what do you think I am?"
      That's when it hit me. That night in the fire my little brother had died hiding under the bed in my parents room. I was all that was left of my family.. My face went blank looking up at him.

"But I watched you grow up"
"You also watched me die or at least you watched your boyfriend pull my body from the fire."
"T..this can't be real"
"I'm sorry. But if your seeing others it could be dangerous for you and your boyfriend."
      With that he faded away from view leaving me again in shock oblivious to the noises that had been going on around me.

  "Damn Jack c'mon"
    A voice snaps me from my daze. I know that voice...that deep playful voice. Spinning around I can't control my emotions. Tears streaming down my face as I run to him.
  This time I forgive my brother for putting that damn camera on my face and...for everything as I cuddle against my very own American hero.
"Hey now baby don't you start crying you'll make me cry"
" I'm sorry...its just...I missed you so!"
"I missed you too every night was torture without you by my side. The guns and bombs didn't scare me half ad bad as the thought of not keeping my promise to you"
    His promise. His promise to always return alive. His promise to never give up or give in. He never has broken a single promise to me.