Her life changed when he looked her in the eyes. For a year they spent their afternoons talking over their laptop screens and walking to classes shoulder to shoulder, the backs of their hands occasionally grazing. They were friends. She saw the future in his eyes and her goodness captured the imagination of his heart. Their friendship turned into love and their dreams turned into plans. Their love was everything a poet writes of and everything a ballad sings of. He was a man of patriotism, a believer that the United States was destined to be the ambassador of freedom to the heathen world. In part, it was his passion that had captured the imagination of her young heart. He loved her like he loved his country, both were infallible in nature and he felt that both were deserved privileges. His love of country brought him to enlist for a 3 year tour in the Middle East. His love for her brought him to ask her for a promise.
I love you. We were meant for this Chantelle. Promise me that you'll always love me and no other.
Brad, my heart...
She wiped a tear from her eye, forcing a smile.
I see in you all my happiness, I just want to be with you... But if you have to go...
She lept forward into his arms, holding him with all of her emotion. They held each other, she softly sobbing over her coming 3 year loneliness, he feeling only the fringes of Old Glory wrapped about him singing its gratitude for his coming service. Brad's only thoughts of their future centering around her being the one to welcome him home, showering him in honor.
And so Chantelle and Brad said their goodbyes, both anticipating the coming days and weeks and years. Brad anticipating the joy and satisfaction of serving that which he loved most in her uniform and with her weapon. Chantelle's anticipation was that of serving the man she loved by waiting for his return, wearing the promise of the remnant of his kiss on her cheek.
Her first love got into a car and rode away. Chantelle fought back tears while she walked back to her apartment. She went straight to her bed, grabbed a pillow, and bawled. The loneliness swelling into her throat, choking her sobs. Never had she experienced such severe pain. She physically hurt. Her body ached with loss. Her only love had been amputated and now she felt the hollow, missing limb. As excruciating as was her pain, was her love enduring.
Her first love got into a car and rode away. Chantelle fought back tears while she walked back to her apartment. She went straight to her bed, grabbed a pillow, and bawled. The loneliness swelling into her throat, choking her sobs. Never had she experienced such severe pain. She physically hurt. Her body ached with loss. Her only love had been amputated and now she felt the hollow, missing limb. As excruciating as was her pain, was her love enduring.
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