Recently retired from the military after a devastating incident with his troop allowing only half to return but, with injuries Austin Moon has yet another obstacles awaiting him as he returns home.
"You've got to be wrong mom." His skin paled tremendously at the news.
"We couldn't tell you through the mail... We thought it would be better in person." My mom whimpered through her tears while my dad held her trying to keep back his own.
"No she was fine the entire time. She never wrote me about this, You never wrote me about this!" Sadness quickly turned into anger. He somehow felt betrayed in this situation he was kept away from this for an entire year.
"Austin we knew you had a lot going on while you were away, Brooke wouldn't let anyone tell you she didn't want to stress you out. " His father spoke calmly but, seemed detached from his own words.
"How could she keep this from me," He stood from the couch and aggressively pulled at his hair. "I would have been by her side the entire time until the last second!" His voice boomed throughout the home sending a jolt of worry through both parents. "And just my luck the week before I come back she finally lets go. It's all my fault I wasn't there to help her!" He raises his fist preparing to punch the wall across from him until his father holds him down seeing that all his son was about to do was hurt his already injured arm.
"Austin none of this is your fault, do you understand? You had no idea what was going on, no one told you anything. And none of us could have stopped it from happening, we all wish we could have but, nothing was in our power to handle. Now stop beating yourself up and know that the entire time Brooke was never mad at you and she never stopped loving you at all." Mark hadn't held his son since he was probably five but, in that moment he knew his son needed support and that's exactly what he was.
Austin's POV 3 years later
"No... I'm sorry! I couldn't do anything!" I woke up with a sheet of sweat covering my body. I sighed and pulled at my hair.
"These dreams aren't getting better." I grumbled and yanked off my blanket. I glared at the clock showing nine o'clock In the morning.
I snatched my tooth brush and headed to the bathroom. I passed the calendar then walked backwards to look at the date again. Great a day full of sympathetic smiles, pats, and lectures of how if you really love someone you should let them go.
"Let's get today over with."
I slowly approached her stone. There were some flowers there already probably from her parents or mine. They're the main ones who wake up this early.
I knelt down on my knees and out down the orchids (her favorite flower).
"So it's been 3 years... I've gotten through it but it still hurts. Not seeing your face everyday not having you wake me up because you're bored or because you saw a bug on the wall... I hope you're having fun with God and I still would like to know who shot Tupac."
"I think we would all like to know." I heard the feminine voice ring through the air. I turned around to be met with a pair of chocolate brown eyes and a small smile.
"I mean come on the person can't stay hidden for this long." She sat in front of the stone next to Brooke's
"You've got a point my friend. I'm Austin by the way." She shook my head and smiled back.
"I'm Ally Dawson and if you don't mind me asking who did you loose?"
"My girlfriend Brooke." I prepared myself for that sympathetic smile but if never came. Her face was blank and she only nodded her head. (Well that's a first.)
"And who did you loose... If you don't mind me asking." I added the end quickly.
"My fiancée Elliot to a drunk driver." She sighed as she traced his name.
"When did he pass?"
"Three years ago in January."
"Brooke passed away of cancer three years too."
"Well then that's ironic." She half smiled (I mean you can't fully smile when talking about the alikeness of two deaths).
"Well all this talk about death is depressing me... So would you like to go to this candy shop I know of?"
"We just met dude I don't want to end up by Elliot."
"Don't worry I'm not a killer scouts honor!" I saluted her.
"Were even a Boy Scout?"
"No but I was in the military so that must count for something.
On the walk there we talked more about ourselves and I really enjoyed the short time we spent together. Cliché I know. A few moments later and we stood outside the candy shop.
"I love this place!" She squealed and dragged me inside.
"Welcome to Candy Mania!" This elderly lady smiled as we walked in.
Ally said a quick thank you then ran to the back. I nodded towards the lady then followed after her. Once I caught up to her she had already filled her entire bag with nothing but, gummy bears.
"So I'm guessing that's your favorite candy?" I smirked at her as she blushed.
"What gave it away?"
"Not the pound bag you're holding or anything." I took it away from her and headed towards the counter not before picking up my own bag of gummy worms on the way.
"Why'd you take my bag?"
"How else am gonna pay for it?" I placed the candy on the counter for the cashier to ring up.
"You don't pay for it I pay for my own candy." She spoke slowly to me as if I were a toddler. I rolled my eyes in response and grabbed my bag after paying the lady.
"Well now it's too late." I smiled at her as I left the shop with her grumbling behind me.
"I still can't believe you paid for my candy."
"For the tenth and final time Ally it's fine."
"We just met today and you already bought me something! I have to pay you back."
"Give me your number you can pay me back by staying in touch with me."
"Give me your phone." I took it out my pocket and placed it in her hand. She typed in her number took her picture then gave me my phone back.
"There now I feel less guilty."
"It was just candy." I chuckled.
"Whatever I'll see you around Austin." She smiled then walked around the corner disappearing from my vision.
"Wow... Today was a good day."