See you again

Goodbyes.

Monday morning finally arrived, wishing it never did. As I awoke I noticed that my wife wasn't in bed. Worried I jumped out of bed and yell out her name, "Lilly honey, where are you!" I heard a soft response coming from downstairs, "I'm in the kitchen, hurry up on down" she said. I rushed downstairs wondering why she had gotten up so early. As I got closer to the kitchen all I could hear was the banging of pots and pans. Wondering what was going on I sped up. "What's going on down here? It looks like a hurricane passed by!" I said in a surprised tone. "Haha very funny. She replied in a sarcastic voice. " I thought I'd wake up early and make you a surprise breakfast. Since today is the last time we will be able to do this" she said in a soft sad voice. As I stood there seeing her eyes tear up, I quickly rushed towards her and brought her close to me and gave her a huge kiss. "Thank you very much for all of this, you really are the love of my life." I said trying to comfort her. She snuggled up in my arms even deeper as if she didn't ever want to leave. She looked up at me and smiled and said "How did I ever get so lucky to find someone like you!" I simply smiled back and said "I think that's my line. Your the best thing that's ever happened to me." She started to tear up and before she could wipe her tears from her eyes she said "Ok ok enough of the waterworks, let's eat! I've made your favorite! Apple cinnamon oatmeal with a side of sausage and fresh orange juice." My eyes widened as I saw the spread she exhaustedly prepared for me. "Thanks honey, let's eat then." I said as I held her by the hand and walked us over to the kitchen table. Everything was delicious, I devoured every single bite of food not leaving a single crumb.

The happy mood we had as we ate completely had changed. It suddenly dawned on us that the time for my departure was closing in. I looked over at her as she ate and saw the look on her face. It turned from her usual bright and happy smile to a more gloomy sad look. I sighed and said "Honey I think it's time I head up stairs and start getting ready. Thank you for this amazing breakfast, I'll remember it everyday until I come back." Without trying to make her any more sad I stood up kissed her in her forehead and made my way up stairs to change into my uniform. She was quick to follow since she entered the room not long after I came in. She stood silently in the doorframe just watching me change into my uniform, not uttering a single word. As I finished changing she spoke and said "Are you sure you have to go? Why don't you cancel it and not show up?" I looked over at her and said "You and I both know I can't do that. If I don't go and abandon my duty, I would get arrested and locked away and things would go to crap." She looked at me with a expression like if she already knew what I was going to reply. She turned around and started walking away. I quickly walked towards her and grabbed her hand. She didn't turn, she just stood there, crying as I held her hand. With out knowing what to say to her I slowly walked towards her and hugged her from behind, slowly wrapping my arms around her. We stood in the hallway not saying a single word. Just memorizing each other's presence in our arms. Not wanting this moment to end. I softly spoke and said "Everything is going to be alright. I promise I'll make it back home to you and our future baby." She looked up at me from behind and simply said "But what if you don't!?" My look turned from one that was trying to comfort someone to one that was full of determination and said "I will come back. If it's that last thing I do." She stayed silent for a second and simply said "Ok I'll believe you, but let this be one promise that won't be broken!" I stared deep into her eyes and said "I won't ever break this promise!" We both smiled at each other and gave each other a kiss.

We slowly started making our way to the stairs, and as we walked down the hall. I couldn't help but to look around at all our photos and see the memories we had shared. It made me somewhat afraid but I knew I had a reason to come back. Not just for my wife but for my unborn child and all the future memories we would make as a family. I grasped her hand tightly as to try to reassure her some more. We slowly made our way downstairs and to the front door. We walked across the front yard and reach our car. I walked over to her side and open her door. She turned and gave me a quick smile. I knew she was hurting but this was just something beyond our control. I got in the car and we were off, to the drop off where we would meet up with the rest of the people drafted to the war. The drive there was going to take a couple of hours since we had to drive to a military base far up north. There we would be assigned squads and split up into different sections; combat, medic, or mechanics. Then board a plane and we would be off, it would take about a full days ride on the plane to reach the battlefield. As we drove we didn't say single word I knew she was hurting and I just simply didn't know what to say to her to make her feel better. All she could do was to stare outside the window and watch the green fields as we drove by. It made me hurt inside seeing her like this, but this was just out of my hands. I tried to not think about it any longer, so I tried to focus on the road ahead and what was yet to come. But that's when I heard her soft voice say "How long do you think you'll be gone for?" I looked at her and without lying I said "I honestly don't know. Might be a few months or a year." She stayed quiet and with that I knew her response. She slowly sunk deeper into the car seat. "Honey I know this is going to be hard for you but your going to have to be strong for me and for our family." I said to her. She turned to me with a somewhat irritated look on her face and began to finally tell me how she's really been feeling about all this. "How am I supposed to just relax and stay calm or even be happy about this! Your leaving and I just don't know if you'll be back! I'm afraid I'll lose you and our family will have no father for our child!" I tried to sneak in a word or two but it was useless. "But I..." She quickly interrupted me and continued with what she was saying "I won't be the same if I lose you, just please can't we just not go and we can run away somewhere they won't find us." She started to cry her eyes out and balled up in the seat. "Honey I know how you feel, I feel exactly the same way, this is going to be hard for the both of us. Trust me when I say this if I could run away and not go I would, but that just isn't possible." Our whole conversation must have caught up with us, cause by the time we have realized it, we were able to see the base as we drove up the hill.

As we made our final approach to the base. Things in the car got really quiet, not one of us making a noise. Just simply staring ahead, none of us knowing what was going on through each others head. As we drove up to the base I was completely amazed at how many others there were. It must have been hundreds of other soldiers, and their families, all waiting trying to spend their last moments together. We found a spot to park fairly close to the main entrance of the base, despite of us being one of the last ones to arrive. As I pulled in to parking spot I looked over at her and just smiled, she smiled back but I could tell it was somewhat forced. "Hey I'm really sorry for all of this, but our country is at war and I have to do my part to help. You do realize this right?" She stayed quiet for a brief second but looked at me and sighed and said "Yes of course I do, but I'm just afraid. I don't want to lose you." She said as she began to tear up. I leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Your not going to lose me, I'll be back before you even realize I'm gone." I took off my bracelet that was handed down from my grandparents to me when I was just a young kid. "Here I want you to hold on to this." She looked over and was surprised that I had taken my bracelet off. "What are you doing!? Why are you giving me this! This means the world to you!" I smiled at her and just said "Yeah I know, but this way I can make sure I really do return. This will make our promise truly unbreakable!" She smiled and leaned in to kiss me. I kissed her back and just held her in my arms.  We stayed in the car waiting for the rest of the soldiers to arrive.

  As the last few remaining soldiers arrived, we heard a loud trumpet over the intercom. It was extremely loud since everyone around completely stopped what they were doing and focused on the loud noise. Then after the blaring of the trumpet came a rusty older voice talking thru the intercom " The last remaining solider has arrived! Please say your last remaining good byes and rendezvous at the front three hangers to be assigned to your squads. You have five minutes so wrap it up soldiers!!!" As the intercom broadcast ended all the soldiers in unison yelled out "YES SIR!" I turned over to Lilly and she looked sad that our final moments were spent the we did. "Honey it's time for me to go. I want to tell you how much I love and adore you. Your the world to me and if can spend the rest of my life with someone it would without a doubt be you!" She started to tear up, as she did I raised my hand up to her cheek and softly rubbed it. She took her hand and placed it on top of mine. We locked eyes and just stared in to each other's eyes. "Goodbye honey. Be strong not only for me but for you and our baby. I love you!"  She tightened her grip on my hand and said "I will and I will always love you forever!"  With that last exchange I stepped out the car and made my way to the hangers.