I watched Dorie as he walked off of the porch of the hospital, smiling at nothing but him in general. He certainly was an interesting character. I do kind of like the way he fought for his respect. Having someone's respect was obviously important to him, and if he had to use his fist to get it, then he would do it. A boxing champion, yet too timid and shy to enter the hospital without knocking. The smile still on my face, I turned my attention to the car that had pulled up. The door opened slowly, and the tall, lanky man got out. It was Danny. I kept asking myself what he was doing here, but when he looked at me with that hard expression of sorrow and remorse, I didn't ask myself anything else. I simply walked up to him and fell against him, while he put his arm around me. I don't quite know what I expected to happen when I did that. Maybe a comfort of knowing that there was someone who would be as lost and lonely without Rafe as I would be? I possibly lost my balance, and he caught me in his strong arms? Or, against my will, maybe it was impulse? Whatever the reason, against all the knowledge I had, it felt right. But, I must make one thing clear. Something feeling right is completely different than me feeling comfort or ease; It's completely different than me knowing that I was going to be alright.
I looked at the ocean while Danny talked. I knew he was talking about Rafe, because here and there I would hear the words "flying" or "better". I felt bad for not listening, but I couldn't help it. My feelings and thoughts were consuming me so largely, that I could've sworn I would drown in them, just as someone drowns in the ocean. The ocean. It is so big, yet men often feel they can big bigger. Like Rafe. So convinced that he would make it; so convinced that he would come back to me. I'd give money on the thought that he never even thought of death until it looked him in the eye. He was too good of a pilot to do that. But when death did look him in the eye, did he feel small then? Did it finally occur to him that no man will ever be as big as the ocean? Not even he. Wiping the tears from my face, I finally tuned myself into what Danny was saying. My own thoughts were killing me. "Up there, he was always pushing me to be better and faster." I smiled vaguely. "He told me that you were the best pilot," I didn't notice the look of pride that must have washed upon his face. My eyes were welling up again. "That was the same night that he told me he volunteered to go to Europe." Danny's face tightened. "Volunteered?" I slowly nodded. He smirked. "He told me he'd been assigned. He was always trying to protect me." I let my tears fall at that. Not knowing what else to do, I leaned against him again. And again, he put his arm around me and whispered in my ear that it would all be alright. Oh, Danny. How I wish you were right. How I wish you were right.
I looked at the ocean while Danny talked. I knew he was talking about Rafe, because here and there I would hear the words "flying" or "better". I felt bad for not listening, but I couldn't help it. My feelings and thoughts were consuming me so largely, that I could've sworn I would drown in them, just as someone drowns in the ocean. The ocean. It is so big, yet men often feel they can big bigger. Like Rafe. So convinced that he would make it; so convinced that he would come back to me. I'd give money on the thought that he never even thought of death until it looked him in the eye. He was too good of a pilot to do that. But when death did look him in the eye, did he feel small then? Did it finally occur to him that no man will ever be as big as the ocean? Not even he. Wiping the tears from my face, I finally tuned myself into what Danny was saying. My own thoughts were killing me. "Up there, he was always pushing me to be better and faster." I smiled vaguely. "He told me that you were the best pilot," I didn't notice the look of pride that must have washed upon his face. My eyes were welling up again. "That was the same night that he told me he volunteered to go to Europe." Danny's face tightened. "Volunteered?" I slowly nodded. He smirked. "He told me he'd been assigned. He was always trying to protect me." I let my tears fall at that. Not knowing what else to do, I leaned against him again. And again, he put his arm around me and whispered in my ear that it would all be alright. Oh, Danny. How I wish you were right. How I wish you were right.