So I was writing last night, and I was wondering what you guys thought.
Should I attempt to make it into a fully-fledged novel, or just keep it a short story??
Should I attempt to make it into a fully-fledged novel, or just keep it a short story??
“When will I see you again?” Claire’s voice was barely over a whisper as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
“I don’t know…” Skyler’s reply was just as equally quiet. “They never tell me anything anymore.” He sighed, holding her closer. “But don’t be sad. We’ll be together again before you know it.” His attempt at a smile was weak and didn’t even reach his eyes, which were beginning to glisten.
“I can’t stand to be without you, though.” She muttered, her voice cracking. The tears that had been waiting began to spill one by one onto her rose-red cheeks, leaving shiny tracks as they slipped down and off her chin. “I don’t want this…” She buried her face in his shoulder, her body quivering with the silent sobs that she was forcing back. Skyler said nothing. Nothing he could say would make this easier for them both. He just kissed the top of her head as his own tears made themselves known.
This was the first time Skyler had been ordered to leave the country, to serve his time protecting his nation in a foreign world. Things hadn’t been looking too great overseas, and it was his turn to aid in the fight. The couple knew this would happen sooner or later, but it hurt nonetheless to see him leave.
Reluctantly, Skyler glanced at his watch. It would be time to report in soon, and last thing he wanted was his commander jumping down his throat on his last day with his fiancée. Wiping away his tears quickly, he shifted and gently tilted her head so that he could see her eyes, the same ones that had always seemed to captivate him, one last time. He wiped the tears that were on her cheeks and paused.
“I want you to think happy thoughts all the time.” He said, and received a slightly confused look in return. With a shake of his head, he continued. “I want you to be happy while I’m gone, and I’ll be happy, too, knowing that you’re okay.”
Claire nodded, sniffling slightly. “But how? It’s going to be hard…”
“I know it’ll be hard, but please try?” Skyler practically begged. “I know you can do this, Claire. I’ve all the confidence in the world that you can be strong during this.”
Before she could utter a rebuttal to this, he pulled her into a fiery kiss, one that would certainly set the world aflame. With this act, the floodgates seemed to open and all the tears they ever had seemed to come bursting through.
“I love you!” Claire cried, burying her face once more into his shoulder. “Come home safe.”
“I promise, as a soldier and as your husband-to-be, I will return to your waiting arms safely.” He replied, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips. After a moment, he reluctantly stepped away, stooping to pick up his bags. He pressed his lips to hers in a final kiss goodbye before hesitantly walking to where the rest of his battalion was forming up, some soldiers with fresh tears covering their cheeks, and some looking as cold as ice, emotionless.
Claire remained rooted to the spot, the salty liquid pouring from her eyes. She stayed there, even as the soldiers marched out to the plane that was waiting for them on the airstrip out back. Her legs just couldn’t seem to move, or they just didn’t want to. Many of the other wives that knew her came to console her, but their words fell on deaf ears.
“Claire, it’s time to go.” Claire’s closest friend and fellow army wife, Kristine, mumbled. When she still didn’t budge, Kristine sighed and scooped her up in her oddly strong arms, carrying her out of the building. Claire did not fight this; instead, she just threw her arms around Kristine’s neck, and a new wave of tears flowed as the sobs she had been fighting burst from her.
