Chapter 8
It’s easy to hide who you are when no one is looking too closely. -Reina
Reina
When a letter arrives in my mailbox the next week, I don’t try to hide my excitement. I barely hold my giddiness together long enough to make it to my bench. I’m vibrating with excitement when I rip into the letter.
Dear Reina,
Thanks so much for your letter and your picture. You give yourself way too little credit if you think that’s merely a doodle. You’re talented, Reina, and you should really explore sharing that talent.
I know it’s easy for me to say that, especially when it seems as if your family has their own expectations of you. But I would hate to see you not share your talent with the world. That’s how good the picture of me was. I mean, I know I’m an attractive subject, but you made me look even better than my usual self (that was a joke btw, does sarcastic humor come across in a letter?).
We’re training every day for our next mission. So, no, absolutely no debauchery going on here. Just a lot of tired guys bellyaching about all the shit we have to do and how little time we have to do it in.
I can’t say I’ve always been a saint, but I know I’ve never met anyone quite like you before. Or felt the way I do just when you look at me. You know, the best part of that picture you drew for me? It captured exactly how I look at you. How important you’ve become in such a short amount of time to me. And here I go getting sappy again…
I love fall too. I played football, once upon a time, so occasionally I miss it. I wasn’t nearly as good as Liam, so I knew high school was as far as I would go, but I got to have a little bit of time as one of the football gods. It was a fun time. I wish I had known you then, but you probably would have thought I was even more cocky than I am now (if that’s even possible, right?) I miss Halloween with my sis and mom and playing in the leaves. Most places we’re sent to don’t have seasons, so it’s nice to enjoy the changing of the leaves and the weather when I am in the states.
We leave in less than a week, so this will probably get to you only a few days before we leave. The military doesn’t always do things on time, but that’s at least when I’m assuming we’ll go. They have a phrase here, hurry up and wait.
I hope you give me a chance and write more, Reina. I want to hear more about you. I want to know what makes you so sure that every guy will be a jerk (Most are, except me, of course…again, does my sense of humor come through on paper?)
I want to know about what makes you, well, you. What your family is like back home and what makes you tick. I’m interested in it all.
Getting your letters make my days immensely better, and you make this soldier an incredibly happy man when I see your handwriting. I’ll send you the the new address of where we’re going as soon as I have it, so I don’t miss any of your letters. I would hate for even one to arrive after we’ve already left.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours, Brian
P.S. I wish I could kiss you again. Is it weird that we’ve only had one kiss and I’m already addicted to the taste of you?
***
I smile the whole day like I’ve won the lottery. When Sophie asks what’s got me in such a good mood, I just shrug and tell her I made a good grade on a test. I feel a little guilty when she takes my words at face value.
As soon as she leaves that night to see Liam, I take out a clean sheet of paper. I twirl the pen in my hand and tap it against my lips. I can’t wait to write my soldier back.