Saved for Macha

"Her misery and my disappearance stem from the same reason. I can explain if you wish? Though maybe not here. Bit loud here. There is a park down the road still right?". I asked as I searched her face for a moment then settled back in my seat.

Emily:
I nodded. "Okay," I said, softly. I got up from my seat and fingered the hem of my sweatshirt. "But uh...you're friend is a little drunk. Should we really be leaving him by himself?"

I glanced over where Cole was roaring with laughter, pounding his dark hand on the bar. He stood in s group of four and looked to be old friends. "Let me take his keys first.". I stood then, reaching intocmy back pocket to pull out my wallet and settle a crisp new twenty dollar bill on the bar while waving to catch the bwrkeeps attention for the money. From there I went to Come and convinced him to pass over his keys.

Emily:
I let him handle his friend, glad that he at least realized that his friend was in no condition to drive himself home. I pulled my sweatshirt tighter around myself in preparation for going outside and waited for him by the door.

Once I was sure Cole would be alright I moved to join Emily at the door. "Are you ready?"

Emily:

I nodded and opened the door, stepping out and then holding it for him. "You may as well start explaining as we walk. I'm sensing a long story and it's a little cold." I told him with a half of smile.

"Not a bad idea.". He began before pausing for a little bit. " my folks....they aren't bad people perse. They are utterly controlling. They built molds for myself and my sister and expect us to fill them. I'm sure that while you have met them at least for the interview, they don't come visit and only contact you to either give new commands or to check that you are following what they already want."

Emily:
I shrugged. "I see them sometimes when I drop Lexi back off at home, but you're right. My checks get directly deposited. I dont see them all that often."

"They wanted me to be a lawyer. Had my school picked out. My future job. My after school activities. Everything. I was a thing not a person. And I fear they are doing that to my sister now. They want her to fill what ever life they have imagined up.". I rubbed the back of my neck. "I have always wanted to work with my hands. To make something or craft something...but I never had the chance except for my few shop classes in highschool. Had to convince my parents it was to pad the grade and look like s hard worker...so when I graduated...i made my first choice on my own. I joined the military."

Emily:
We had been slowly walking as he spoke and I was just starting to see the park entrance. I listened intently, trying to understand his motivations for leaving. As we walked on, I started to get colder, so I hugged myself a little tighter. "I guess that all makes sense. But why didn't you tell your sister what you were doing? Why didn't you ever write or call?" I asked. "She misses you so much, and as far as she's concerned, you just disappeared on her," I said.

"The day I left was the day before I was going to be sent off to whatever college my parents had in store. I meant to write to her...in fact after Basic I did. I don't know if my letters ever got through my parents. But a month after basic I shipped over seas and I lost all reasoning..." He spoke softly, a note of pain touching his voice as he spoke of the military.

Emily:
I sighed. I could clearly see the regret and hurt on his face. "Okay, listen, none of this really matters anymore. What's done is done." I said. I stopped and turned to face him and put a hand on his arm to stop him too. "I just need to know that you're not going to do it again. If you leave, stay in touch with her," I pleaded. "Thats all I'm asking." I looked him in the eye so he would see how sincere I was being. I couldn't stand to watch him break her heart again.

I searched her face, already feeling the sincerity in her pleading tone but wishing to see it on her face. I gazed right back into her eyes as I struggled inwardly. "I don't know if they will deploy me again. And I'm not what I once was...but I won't leave her alone. I wanted to take her out of that life and let her be whomever she wanted to be." A hand was raised to be placed atop her own, gently squeezing it.

Emily:

I searched his eyes and saw that he meant it. "She's staying at my house tomorrow." I said softly. "You're welcome to come over and stay for as long as she wants." I dropped my hand from his arm and raised my eyebrow. "But if you hurt her, I will find you and it will not be pretty," I threatened.

I laughed softly. "I have seen hell and more...been through it...but I believe you will put me through worse...I won't hurt her...or I will try not too. Meeting me again might not be a good thing for her." I crossed my arms then let out a soft breath. "Tomorrow then."

Emily:
I started walking again towards some swings. "Im sure she'll be delighted to see you," I said, looking at him over my shoulder. I sat down on a swing. "Bring her a present or something. She likes art and cooking."

"Art and cooking huh..." Sitting heavily on the swing beside her I kicked my feet at the dirt to get myself moving a little. "So much I have missed..."

Emily:
"She's a fantastic artist. Like its almost unreal what she do," I told him. "And she cooks better than anyone I know. All I do is supervise the hot surfaces and the sharp objects and she can cook pretty much anything." I told him, trying to give him some information about his sister. I kicked my feet to start swinging a little.

I kept my feet on the ground and rocked with soft pushes. "Really? That's wonderful to hear actually. I'm happy she found something to make for herself..." I sighed softly, "I hate that I've missed so much. I hope I won't be a bother if I spend a lot of tomorrow with her?"

Emily:
I shook my head. "Like I said, you're welcome to stay for as long as she wants you."

"Right...". I replied with eyes downcast. I searched within for something else to say before looking over at her. "How have you been?". It sounded awkward even to my own ears, but she was a nice change of pace from military members i was used to speaking with.

Emily:
I smiled over at him and shrugged. "I've been okay...nothing of major importance has happened to me in the last few years." I said. And it was true. My life was pretty dull. Other than my days with Lexi, I had nothing exciting. No passion. "How has being home been?"

"...Different. Nothing is as I remember it and I keep expecting to be in the middle of combat at any second." I sighed and rubbed my face for a moment.

Emily:
I slowed my swinging and bit my lip. "Look I wanted to apologize about before. I didn't mean to be so harsh. I didn't know your story and it wasn't my place." I said.

"No. I actually appreciate it. You were looking after my sister and it's better that way then the gentle touches and fragile ways people talk to me since being rescued overseas." I swung harder, actively going now.