With This Pen and Paper

4

When we got to school there was a weird feeling around. We knew that a lot of the boys were going straight to the war and there was a big chance that we wouldn't see each other again. I went into homeroom and sat next to Adriana for the last time. What we didn't know was that was going to be the last time we ever saw each other – Adriana moved to New York city and met a boy in her freshman year of college, she got married and didn't look back. If only it had been that easy for all of us. 

I looked over and saw Elijah's empty chair one last time and all the memories we had together had started to rush back to me. More specifically the day he told me he enlisted. He walked towards me in the hallway with a guilty look on his face.

"Elijah are you okay?"

"I have to tell you something and you're going to get mad about it, but I've already done it". He had started to worry me. If only I could have prepared myself for what was going to come next.

"Elijah you're starting to scare me, what did you do?"

"I enlisted, I'm leaving on Monday". I had felt my heart break not because I was in love with Elijah but because this was the boy who took me to homecoming and spent the whole night dancing like a clown whilst the rest of the football team sat around. He was also the boy who would take any time out of his day to play with his little sister. I didn't want to have to say goodbye to that boy.

"I'm really sorry Josie, But I can't sit at home or go to college while every other guy my age is out there fighting for our freedom". He basically pleaded with me.

"I understand, I don't want you to go and I'm going to miss you, but I understand why. Promise me you'll be careful please Elijah." I couldn't let him think that I was mad or that I hated him.

"I promise ill be careful. I do have something for you though." I didn't want anything from him, not then I didn't.

"I want you to have my jacket. I know that the other guys on the team give their jackets to their girlfriends, but I don't have one, obviously, but you're my best friend and it just doesn't feel right to give this to anyone else". I had to try really hard not to cry when he handed me the jacket. This was a moment that no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't forget about it.

"Ill keep it warm for you" I took it and gave him what felt like the biggest hug I had ever given.

"thank you" he said to me. That was the last time I spoke to the boy that I had known.

The last day of school made me feel like I was saying goodbye to Elijah all over again. It made me realise how much I had missed him. If he had been there he probably would've gone off to school with me and he would've been making all the girls fall in love with him without even realising it.

Elijah's jacket was the first thing that I had packed.