'Till you come home

A Story by WindsorWolf28

'Till you come home.

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You pulled me into your arms. I could smell your aftershave.
"I love you, Shade." You told me softly. I could feel the tears burning my eyes.
"I know. I know." You tightened your grip around me as I began to shake.
"Why? Why do you have to go?"
I didn't want to let you go.
"It's my job, Shade. They need me." I needed you too. More than you'd ever understand.
"I need you too." You kissed me one last time as they sent out the last call for the train.
"Be strong, Shadow." You let go of me, and I felt cold again.
"Till I come home." You whispered to me, reciting the phrase you always said to me before you left.
"Till you come home." I promised.
And I was pushed back into the crowd of people, the men by the train forcing everyone away from the platform as the train left.
"Till you come home, Shane, till you come home."
I stayed there for hours, silently asking the train to come back.
But it didn't.
And neither did you.

I stayed until maybe nine at night. The stars were covered. It was so dark. So cold. And you weren't there. I walked myself home as it began to snow.

I waited every week for your calls, for your letters. Then one day...they just...stopped. No goodbye. Nothing.
Nothing!
I waited months. Months turned to a year.
But our phrase: "till I come home." Meant so much. It was a strong promise. It said so much. It meant you'd be back. It meant you'd come home.
But this sick feeling in my stomach wouldn't leave me be.
Then I got the phone call.
The call no wife or husband ever wants.
You were dead.
You died.
You were coming home. Just not the way we had planned.
I broke down. I cried all night.
No. This couldn't be happening.
Not to me. Not to you.
Not to us.

God I love you.

One week later, you arrived.
Home.
You were finally home.
But your eyes were closed.
In your hand, you held your favorite picture.
It was a picture of us.
It was the one Emma took on my birthday.
The day you asked me to marry you.

The men all say you were a hero.
But no matter who's hero you are, just know your my hero. You saved me when no one else could. When I was dying inside.

You died saving a school of kids.
You always loved kids.
They shot you.
Those b******s shot you in the chest.
But you didn't go down.
At least, that's what they say.
They say you died after the kids were safe.

One week later was your funeral.
It was beautiful.
They buried you beside your mother.
I sat a branch of forget-me-nots on your grave. They were always your favorite.

Is it okay for me to be weak now?
You came home.
And I can't be strong without you.

I miss you, Shane.
More than you'll ever know.

I'll see you again one day.