An Untold Story

Off to War

Seven Days Later

-"You better be careful!" I cried as I adjusted Zak's uniform that he had received from war training. The last seven days have been hard on Zak and I, Nick included.

We had all taken a train to Tennessee so Zak and Nick could depart from me. I was more nervous than I was when Zak and I had intercourse. We arrived in a town named Nashville, Zak and Nick were preparing themselves to head off to war as they saddled their horses for the long ride ahead deeper into the South.

-"I want you to take this train back to Arizona." Zak said as he cradled my face in his palms, "I-I don't want to." I cried as his sadness turned deeper.

-"You have to!" Zak shook me, "I'm not letting you in harm's way!" Zak demanded as he forced the train ticket in my hand.

I had to disobey his orders. I had gotten to know Zachary Bagans a lot more in the span of seven days more than I have any other person, and I now knew when Zak was dead serious about a topic. I knew deep down that he didn't want to watch me leave on a train while he stayed to fight a war.

-"I love you, Elizabeth, I'll write to you when I can." Zak assured as he pulled me into his embrace. I could feel the sweat collecting on his neck by the heavy wool uniform as my forehead was cradled on his shoulder.

-"All aboard!" The train conductor announced, causing Zak and I to depart one last time.

-"I shall see you again, my dear." Zak smiled as he pulled my face in for a good-bye kiss. He then led me to the train's passenger car, holding my hand as I climbed up the three stairs that hovered above the tracks. I blew him a kiss as I entered the car, taking the nearest seat that was in my vision. My heart was breaking at the bare thought of leaving him on the train.

As a woman in this age, I just couldn't be alone. I needed a protector! As the train jolted into its go, I witnessed Zak's heart break as he waved good-bye as I cried through the stained window. I counted thirty minutes, the longest thirty minutes of my life as we were still in Tennessee heading back to Arizona.

The land was beautiful - so much terrain and so much greenery. I'm writing in my pocket journal as we speak, no words could exactly explain how I feel at the moment except for sadness, and peacefulness - sadness in leaving Zachary, and peacefulness at looking at the beautiful state. It was hard to wrap my mind around that a war was going to be fought here and deeper into the South.

The train finally made it to a station in Memphis to rest for the afternoon, giving passengers an hour to roam about. I however, was figuring out a way to get to my Zachary, a way to make myself look inconspicuous.

I stood up from my seated position on the solid Oak seat and explored the train, looking for something that I just couldn't think of looking for.

Then it hit me, a man's Confederate uniform that had not been worn yet. It lay folded in a small box, along with a rifle and belt beside of it. I slipped out of my dress and into the large baggy uniform. I lay my medium length hair on top of my head as I placed the Confederate cap in a snug position. I rubbed my skin hard as I removed my cosmetics from my tender skin. I grabbed the rifle and jumped from the sliding door of the car, landing harshly on the soil. I got up and dusted myself off, cursing at myself for thinking that hurt.

I needed to toughen up if I was going to play the role of a soldier. I found the nearest horse, not caring if I got witnessed. I kicked the unknown horse into a full gallop, cautiously following the signs that led from Memphis to Nashville, where I had left Zak. Days passed as I finally arrived in Nashville, Tennessee.

The town was quiet - a ghost town in fact. The local sign said that the war has moved further South into Georgia and Alabama. The horse and I were tuckered out. I rode to the nearest forest and set up what seemed like a camp. The sounds of the crickets and the soft Tennessee breeze flew through the trees. The horse's soft breaths travelled through its nostrils at a calm pace. All was peace and quiet as my eyes desperately flickered to get a night's rest, but I had to stay awake. I was dressed as a Confederate soldier! My life was on the line! I didn't know if I were in a war zone or not. I assumed not because it was so silent. I was on the brink of finally falling asleep when I heard a few twigs snapping in the distance. The noises caught mine and the horse's attention as I tried to load the rifle in which I had no experience in. The twig snaps were getting closer as I decided to make a dash through the Tennessee wilderness.

I couldn't keep the screams from coming out of my mouth as I forced my legs to run faster and faster, until I tripped on an erected tree root. I was flipped to my back by my ankles as a rough palm covered my lips. I felt the scratchy goatee on my nose as his hot breath hit my forehead.

-"I knew there was somethin' fishy goin' on 'round here." He breathed his familiar voice before taking his palm from my lips,

-"Aaron?"