The Perfect Lovestory

A Story by Irishbabies

Erick was a soldier returning back from war with the outturn of losing his vision for good.Claire is a young women with problems of her own,when they find each other could their pain unite them?

23 year old Erick was being sent back home after serving his country for almost five years.He had join the military at a young age without the acceptance of his parents.His mother a simple secretary did the best she could to support her family after her husband suffered an accident leaving him unable to walk.Erick knew that his mother's paid check wouldn't be enough for him, his father and his ten year old brother. So he did what he thought was right and join the military.Without ever thinking that he was going to be send home following a mine going off causing him to go blind after a severe head injury.

Going back home wasn't exactly what he wanted, he still had his family he had to look after but it seemed like he had no other choice.As his friend Jessie helped him pack his things he sat on his bed staring into space, his other friends goofy around the laughter and conversation filling the room.Jessie threw a shirt inside his bag his attention suddenly turning to his friend.

"It's for the best man"Erick didn't reply his gaze never leaving where he thought the other soldiers were.Jessie sat down on the bed glancing at Erick sighing deeply.

"You're gonna see your parents and Teddy I would give anything to see my sweet Ally"Erick finally turned to Jessie and smiled attempting to wrap his arm around his neck but missed completely.Jessie laughed taking his arm placing it around his neck.He wanted nothing more but to be see his parents, heck he even missed his "annoying"brother Teddy.They had been very close since his mom had returned home one afternoon with Teddy in her arms.All of this, he was doing was for them, he had made many friends while serving here in Afghanistan that he somehow didn't want to leave.

"I promise I will tell Ally how much you love her"Jessie smiled taking a picture out his pocket, the picture was a little damage and you can barely tell who was in it.

"Give this to her yeah?Don't forget about your friends"Jessie took his free hand opening his palm and placing the picture in his hand.Erick smiled giving him a warm hug ,Jessie pulled away standing back up again to try and finish packing.The commander chief Dunn walked into the tent, the other soldiers quickly stood up in formation.Chief Duun walked up to Erick with a sympathetic look on his face.

"The private plane that's taking you home is ready"Erick nodded his head in defeat he had no other choice but to obey.

"It's a real shame son you were one of my best soldiers but I wish you the best"Erick stood up saluting his commander.Chief Dunn pulled him in for a hug patting him on the back strongly, he pulled away from him smiling then walking away.Jessie zipped up his bag throwing it over his shoulder as Erick said goodbye to the other soldiers. Jes walked him out to the plane waiting for him, he turned to his friend giving him one last hug.

Neither one of them knew if he was going to make it home so this was especially hard.The flight attendant helped Erick get into the plane as another one closed the door behind him.The flight was long but hours later it landed in his hometown North Carolina, a small but quiet town where nothing exciting ever happens but it was home after all.Erick's parents and brother were waiting for him just outside, just as he his feet touched the ground Teddy ran up to him.

"Kit kat!!"Erick laughed giving him a long hug while he ruffled his hair.

"Hey stinker how are you?"Teddy pulled away from him extremely happy to see his brother once more, his classmates were always telling him how people who served in the military never came back.That was one of his biggest fear, but he was glad that wasn't the case here.

"Good I missed you"Erick smiled nodding his head assuring him he had missed him too.Both of his parents approached him greeting him happily.He now realized how lucky he was to be able to come home to be with his family, when many of the other soldiers didn't have that opportunity.But now with his disability he had to figure out a way to help his mom bring some money home.

"We're glad you're home sweetie"his mom grinned kissing him on top of his head, they didn't care that Erick was now blind due to his head injury.Since they had never approve for him to join the military in the first place they were just happy to have their son back home safely.

"I made an appointment with a very good doctor my friend Julie recommended"Eleanor grinned hoping that for once in his life he would accept the help that they were offering him.Of course they proud of Erick for being independent and going as far as he had even though he didn't finish school.

"Cancel it"he spoke angrily he didn't want anything that had to do with doctors or nothing that would 'help' him regain his sight back.All he wanted was to go home and forget everything he had gone through.

"But Erick"he knew that his mom's intention were good but he had now accepted the fact that he was blind and that he will never be able to see ever again.The last thing that he wanted was to get his hopes up and later being told 'oh never mind you won't be getting your vision back' he couldn't and he didn't want to go through that.

"I'm blind mom, I won't see ever again and I will only be a burden for you and dad"Eleanor tried to hold back her tears going to up to her son trying to caress his cheek but Erick only moved his head abruptly.

"You're not a burden, you never will be.Me and your father love you and we will never leave you alone.If there is hope for you to get your sight back we should at least try"no matter how much Eleanor tried to persuade him he had already made up his mind.

"Well maybe I don't want to get my sight back,I accepted it you guys should too"he began walking away but it was a bit hard since he didn't have a cane to help him find his way.Teddy ran after him wanting to grab his arm to assist him,Erick only pulled his arm away leaving his brother behind.Eleanor sighed going up to her younger son embracing him in her arms.The drive home was quiet nobody said a thing for a while, Mark,Erick's father, turned to the back seat holding up a cane forgetting for moment his son's blindness.

"Me and your mother got you a cane to help you get around"Erick only sat there in silent his arms crossed in front of his chest.Mark put the cane down turning his gaze back on the road,Eleanor grabbed his hand smiling.They knew they had to try hard to help their son accept the help, and if at the end he wasn't able to regain his vision accept it.They weren't about to give up though Erick is there son, he had done so much for them that now it was their turn to return the favor.But what they didn't know was that he was about to meet someone who was going to change his whole perspective of life.Would it be for good though?