CHAPTER ELEVEN
Jacob
“I, Jacob Sullivan, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
As I proudly declared my decision to join the military, a wave of excitement and nerves washed over me. It was something I had always dreamed of, but now that the moment had arrived, doubts began to surface. What if I couldn't make a difference? What if I wasn't strong enough for this path?
But then I looked at Anya's tearful smile and felt overwhelmed with emotion. I walk up to both my mom and Marissa and hug them, then I turn to Anya and lift her head by her chin. Tears are falling down her face, I lean down to gently kiss her and wipe away her tears. My heart aches seeing her cry and there isn’t anything could do to take away her pain.
“I don’t know if I can do this without you” she softly says and my chest tightens. She’s been through so much already and I want to be here to protect her. But I made a commitment and I am a man of my word. Then I put my hand on her cheek, “You can, my love, just remember what I told you - you are stronger than you realize. I love you Anya, and I promise to write as soon as I can” I say to reassure her and then I turn to walk toward the bus. It takes all of me not to turn around and pull her into my arms. I get on the bus and I do my best not to look out the window. But I fail miserably, I can’t help but stare at Anya. Even with tears down her face, she is by far the most beautiful and sexiest woman I have ever been with. The best part is that she chose me, despite her past, she decided to trust me and I will be forever grateful for that.
When the bus pulled away and I saw Anya's tears streaming down her face, a sense of regret started to creep in. How could I leave her behind when she was already going through so much? How would I be able to protect her from hundreds of miles away?
As the town faded from view, I struggled with conflicting emotions. This was my dream, but it came at a high cost. Would Anya even want to be with me after all this? Was my dream worth sacrificing our relationship?
Lost in thought, I watched the world go by outside the window. I had always wanted this, but never anticipated having someone like Anya in my life. Now, with the weight of my decision weighing heavily on me, all I wanted to do was turn back and run into her arms. But it was too late for that now – I had already signed my life away to the Army for the next four years. And as much as it tore me apart, there was no going back.
Before I knew it, we had arrived at the airport and the weight of reality began to settle upon me even more. We all stood up and filed off the bus, collecting our luggage before making our way inside. The process of checking in and going through security was routine, just like any other flight. Our gate wasn't too far away and we had a couple of hours before boarding. Some of my fellow recruits grabbed food from nearby vendors, but I chose to sit by a large window and watch planes taking off and landing. My mind couldn't help but wander to thoughts of Anya as I waited for our departure time.
As the minutes ticked by, my heart grew heavier with each passing second. I wanted nothing more than to turn back and be by Anya's side, but the responsibilities and commitments that had been made were too great to ignore.
Finally, it was time to board. We lined up, each of us with our own thoughts and emotions weighing down on us. As we reached the gate, a sense of solidarity began to form among us. We were all in this together, facing the unknown with the same apprehension in our hearts.
We boarded the plane, each finding our seat and settling in. As I sat in the window seat, a recruit who looked to be about my age next to me, and another recruit who looked younger than us both took the aisle seat. I glanced around, taking in the faces of the other fellow recruits, many of whom were just as young and nervous as I was. Despite our fears, there was a sense of unity and strength in the air. We were all here for a reason, and together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The plane took off, and I watched the world shrink beneath me as we climbed higher into the sky. I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions - excitement for the adventure that awaited me, sadness for leaving Anya behind, and fear for what the future might hold.
As we soared through the clouds, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I was doing this for myself, yes, but also for my country, for my family, and for Anya. In her eyes, I saw love, support, and unwavering faith in me. No matter how far apart we might be, I knew she'd always be with me in spirit.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath as we cruised through the sky. I was on my way to something great, but my heart ached for the love and warmth of home.
“I can’t wait for this to start, man!” the guy on the end by the aisle exclaimed, bouncing in his seat. The person sitting next to me just shook their head and rolled their eyes.
"Aren’t you excited?" the new recruit asked. "Oh, my name's Jaxon, but everyone calls me Jax," he said with a big grin.
I simply nodded and gave a small smile, while the person next to me remained silent.
"Well?" Jax prompted, still smiling widely as if expecting us to say something. "This is where we introduce ourselves and get to know each other," he added.
"Does it even matter? We might not even see each other once we get there," the person next to me grumbled.
"Alright, grumpy.” he scoffs, “And what's your name?" Jaxson asked, gesturing towards me.
"Jacob," I replied.
"At least someone here knows how to be friendly," Jackson remarked, looking pointedly at the person sitting between us. "Nice to meet you, Jacob."
I shook Jackson's hand and introduced myself, feeling a small spark of hope. Despite the nervous energy and uncertainty that surrounded me, I realized I might just make some new friends along this journey.
After an hour, Jax is sound asleep. I glance over at the man sitting next to me and notice that he still hasn't spoken a word. "You good, man?" I ask, nudging him slightly.
"I'm fine," he replies curtly.
"Okay," I say, stretching out the 'o' sound before turning back to gaze out the window.
He lets out a sigh. "Listen, I don't mean to be rude. I just really dislike flying and want this flight to be over with."
"No problem, I understand," I assure him.
"I'm Damien, by the way," he introduces himself.
"Nice to meet you," I respond.
I lean forward, rummaging through my carry-on bag when I come across an envelope. I recognize Anya's handwriting and realize she has sneakily slipped a letter into my bag. How did she manage to do that? I wonder as I unfold the paper.
"Dear Jacob, you're probably wondering how I managed to get this letter in your bag without you noticing, and my answer is... I have my ways *insert sexy smirk here* ." I chuckle at her sassy comment and continue reading. "I just wanted to remind you how proud I am of you and how grateful I am that we met on that cruise. Don't worry about me while you're gone, focus on your training. I have Lana and my grandparents here to help me. Just remember that I love you with all my heart. I'll be waiting for your return, maybe even recreate our melted chocolate scenario from the car *winky face*. Stay safe, my love, and don't forget to write back.
Love, Anya."
As I read Anya's letter, I felt a surge of love and warmth. It was comforting to know that she was waiting for me at home, cheering me on from afar. But the reality of our new situation wouldn't be so simple.
Damien and I had been sitting in silence for most of the flight, but as the flight went on, we both began to open up a little. The more we spoke, the more we found in common, and I began to realize that perhaps we were better off making friends than just enduring the journey on our own.
As the plane prepares to land, I look out the window one last time and I couldn't help but think back at the memory of Anya's tears as I left. I had no idea what my future held, but I knew that I had a choice to make. I could either let fear and doubt control me, or I could face the unknown with the support of my new friends and the thought of Anya. I was not alone.