Different → S.Rogers | Wattys 2019 |

A Mystery Of a Man

July of 1943

A V A ' S  P O V

Weeks have gone by since Steve had joined the Army, and I haven't heard much from him, nor Bucky. I'm beginning to wonder how things are going with Steve, I have yet to receive a letter from him. I know he can't tell me much, but all I want to know is if he's okay, and if he doing well so far. There's many moments during my days that I ponder about them. Life isn't the same without the two around, it's not as joyous. The days I'm working I still think for a moment that Steve's going to stop in for lunch, but then I hear the mentioning of wars within the customers chatter and it brings me back to my reality. The reality that my love will be in war, a war that may never end soon.

A war he may not come back from as the same man, or come back from at all.

I let out a huff as I cleaned up my last table and collected my last bit of tips, which was a few pennies and dimes. Occasionally the business folk come in and give cash tips, which is great. But that wasn't the case today.

With the war going on I don't
make much. I sometimes question myself, wondering why I'm still working here. There's plenty of things I could be doing, even Steve has tried convincing me chase my dreams but I don't even know what my dream are. Right now I guess my only focus is staying on my feet during this war and trying to cope.

"You can leave now Ava, I'll finish cleaning up." My coworker, who had just arrived; told me and I piped up at the thought.

"Are you sure?" I asked hopeful. She simply nodded telling me that she had it under control.

"Thank you so much." I told her as I took off my apron. "I don't know how much more I could take of this shift."

She gave me a knowing look. "Right, Just blame it on the shift Ava."

I scoffed. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked half offended.

"Oh I didn't mean anything by it, I just know you're all down because your boyfriend got sent to war." She said. "It's alright to feel sad you know, you don't have to blame it on the customers." She tried to joke.

I smiled slightly, thinking about her words. "Yeah, it's that obvious huh?" I asked amused as I grabbed my bag from the rack.

She nodded. "Yeah, it is."

She moved past me but paused, patting me on the shoulder assuringly. "It'll be alright."

I half smiled and nodded slightly. "Yeah, I hope." Was all I said.

"Have a good rest of the day Ava." She told me.

As if she knows what I'm going through.

Nobody she knows has been shipped off to war, she's quite lucky.

I pushed open the glass door and moved out of the diner into the broad daylight. It was a beautiful day and I couldn't help but feel a little better as I began to walk around. New Yorkers flooded the streets, and children ran around playing amongst the streets.

I did what I'd usually do when I get off work. I stop at the fruit stands and pick up fresh produce, as I was shopping around I happened to peer over at a newspaper stand, reading the daily headline.