The Soldier Next Door

As a young child, we all have dreams; at the tender age of even seven, a child can tell you what he wants to be the day he grows up. It might change several times over the years, but the principle stays the same, you still have a dream. In a way, we never grow up; we are always aiming higher and bigger but yet we still dream.

I am not one that needs to remind you what it feels like to have a dream taken away from you. So when I heard that I could have my dream back, I did not hesitate to grab it with both hands.

The best part of this yet is that I will have Ana by my side, walking this path with me step by step. I am scared that if I close my eyes for a minute too long, all of this was a real dream in my head.

Sitting here with her next to me, I feel that I need to hear it again. God, I hope that my ears were not deceiving me.

“Boo, please tell me again. I am so afraid I have fallen asleep and have dreamt this impossible dream.”

“Soldier, I am coming with you. I am leaving this small little town with you hand in hand in four week’s time.”

“Do you have any idea how much I love you, Ana?”

“If it is half as much as I do you, then it is a whole damn much.”

“Now more than ever, I am so happy that this old stump made me so tired that day that I had to sit down on that rock.”

“And if I were not creeping around, I would have never met your sweet ass.”

“Oh, now my ass is sweet? What happened to being sexy?”

“I do not want to go around and give you a big head now.”

“Yeah, because we already know that I have a really big one.”

“Soldier! I was not referring to that. Now get your head out that gutter, and let us go tell Matt and Katarina the good news.”

“I must warn you, boo. I think Matt has got a thing for Katarina.”

“Oh, trust me, soldier, I know she has one for him too.”

We find Matt and Katarina sitting outside on the deck. Now, if flirting were an illness, then I’d say these two were completed riddled with sickness. To say that Matt is showing any restraint would be a plain out lie.

“Do you two want us to come back later?” I am the first to ask as we approach them from behind.

“Yes, you seem to be kind of busy over there,” Ana adds.

Katarina snaps her head in our direction as we startle them. “Matt was just showing me his tattoos.”

“Aahhh,” Ana says. “Is that what you call it these days.”

“No, seriously, I was only showing her my tattoos,” Matt jumps in to explain.

“Yes, Matty,” I pat him on the back. “Like I have not heard that one yet.”

Then out of frustration, Katarina tries to change the subject away from them. “Let’s forget about us. Why are you two lovebirds so happy?”

“Well, we got some great news,” I start to say.

“Shit, bro,” Matt interrupts me. “Don’t tell me your horny ass has gone and knocked Ana up.”

“Damn Matty, what the hell is on your mind?”

And out of complete nowhere, Katarina says, “Well, what is more than exciting having sex?” But Ana looks at her in utter shock. “Katarina! Really?”

“What?”

I immediately stop the way this conversation is heading in. “No one is knocked up. Well, at least I hope not?”

I look over to Ana with pleading eyes. Not that I would not want to happen. It would just be that she can’t deploy then.

“Boo?”

“Hahaha, don’t worry, soldier. I don’t think we at that stage yet.”

I look on over to Matt and see the frustration on his face. “Then out with the happy news then.”

“Well, my boo here, she is coming with me when I redeploy.”

“Damn, bro, you are one lucky dog.”

“Hahaha, I am lucky but not quite a dog.”

“Hey, you not even home for two months, and you got a girl, and you deploying again. I’d say you are damn lucky there

Then Ana looks at Matt with a wicked smile on her face. I know that she is up to something, and I am sure we are about to find out.

“Well, maybe you can get lucky too, Matty. I think Katarina will enjoy staying here.”

“I will?” Katarina asks. “Since when am I staying here?”

“Since I just asked you now. You always said you want to get away from your horrible city apartment. So why not come keep old Matt company here?”

“Mmm, now that is a tough bargain. Stay in the city or get me a good old town folk boy?”

I watch as Matt’s eyes grow wide, and there is excitement that sets on his face. There is a wicked smile that creeps in from underneath his smile.

“Don’t know so much about the good there. But I am sure an old town folk boy. So when are you guys leaving, bro?”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Four weeks, maybe even a bit earlier. It depends when I need to go through the evaluation board.”

“Well, you know what you are going to have to go do now?”

“Yes, and I am so dreading that one now.”

Then Ana looks at me with somewhat confusion. “What, soldier? Did I miss anything here?”

“I am going to have to let mom cry. She did not know it was for certain, but it has become a reality now.”

“Don’t worry, soldier. I think your mom will be happier to know that I am coming with you

“I know boo, I know she will.”

We spend the rest of the day on the deck sharing stories of a time that we were all a lot more carefree and not having much responsibility to carry on our shoulders. Soon the evening draws close, and Matty and I decide to sleep over; tomorrow, I will be moving in. I will save the exciting news for mom and dad at breakfast

Back in Ana’s room, we both are lying on the bed, just staring at each other. There is pure happiness in our eyes. I have never felt such an amazing feeling in my life before. We are young and in love and got the entire world ahead of us.

I wrap my arm around her tiny waist. I pull her closer until there is barely a distance of an inch between our bodies. My thumb is softly caressing her cheek as I whisper

“I love you, Ana Jenkins.”

“Oh, soldier, you have no idea how much I love you too.”

Her eyes are gazing into mine like she was looking far beyond into my soul. I stare back at her beautiful brown eyes that glimmer like the stars in the sky.

“Thank you, boo.”

“For what soldier?”

“For doing this for me, for giving up your life to be with me.”

“Who says I am giving anything up? Have you ever thought that maybe it is you that is my life?”

I look down at her lips, and she knows what I am about to do. I so desperately want to claim those lips. I look back at her eyes; there is a softness in them. Although her eyes are soft, I notice all the feelings behind them, as if she is longing for something. I touch my forehead against hers, and I feel a warmth. One that I’ve never experienced before. It fills my body, from head to toe, invigorating me and filling me with a passion and a hope that is so powerful.

Gentle but passionate, I press my lips into hers. The world around me slows; I want to bein this moment forever. My heart flutters, and she kisses me back. Her lips are soft and warm. She puts his hand on the back of my head, pulling me even closer. We pull back and smile. I lay my head on her shoulder, and even though I’m filled with the warmth from the kiss, I still shiver.

“Are you cold, soldier?”

“No, boo, I am just very happy.”

We fall asleep in each other’s arms. Even though we might not be able to experience this every night, the most comfort I will have is that not one of us will be alone

Breaking the news to mom and dad the next day goes off far easier than I thought it would. Mom does not cry as I thought she would, and dad has never been more proud.

The next three weeks go by quicker than we thought. My training goes very well, and I am fitter than I have been in months. Ana is there with me every single day, motivating me to do my best.

Then finally, the day arrives. We are leaving today for me to go be evaluated by the board. In a week’s time, we will deploy. We are all standing at the bus stop saying our goodbyes

My mom is holding me so tight in her arms that I feel like I am struggling to breathe. “Oh, my boy, I am going to miss you so much. I know you have to, but I just wish we had a little more time with you.”

“Mom, we will come to visit whenever we can.”

My father looks at my mom only but shaking his head. “Mary, the boy is not immigrating; he is coming back.”

“Oh shut up, John, you know what I mean.”

Once I am finally out of her grip, I give a very reluctant father, a big old man hug. “I am so damn proud of you, my son. Who gives a damn if you did not become a doctor.”

“I am going to take that one as a compliment, dad.”

“Well, bro, I am going to miss you.” Matt steps forward and pats me on the back while Katarina pulls Ana in a big girl hug. “I am going to miss you, girl. You look after her soldier!

Matt pulls Ana, and much to my surprise hugs her. “Gonna miss you, sis.”

Then my mom hugs Ana. “Yes, Ana, me and John is going to miss that sunshine smile on your face.”

“I am going to miss you too, Mary and John.”

But what my dad says shocks me right .”

“Really, dad? That is a bit forward, don’t you think?”

“Oh hush, Ethan, no ordinary woman will give up what this girl is doing.”

“I know, that is why I love her so much.”

The bus comes driving up the road and comes to a stop next to us. It is real now. As I watch Matty load our bags on, I know it is real. This is what we have been working for a month; this is what I have been dreaming for. This is my life. This is what makes me complete. This is my dream

We say our final goodbyes and board the bus. Hand in hand, we walk towards the back and take a seat next to each other. We watch as the bus slowly starts pulling away and see our family and friends disappear until they look nothing but like ants

I turn to Ana, and she has the very same tears as what I have in my eyes.

“Are you ready for this, boo?”

“Stop the bus!”